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Clement • Charlotte Harris •Whitney
THE
LIFE,
ADVENTURES,
AND
P Y R A C I E S,
Of the Famous
Captain SINGLETON:
Containing an Account of his
being fet on Shore in the Ifland of
A^adagafcar^ his Settlement there, with a De-
Icription of the Place and Inhabitants: Of his
PafTage from thence, in a Paraguay, to the
main Land of Africa^ with an Account of the
Cuftoms and Manners of the People: His
great Deliverances from the barbarous Na-
tives and wild Beafts : Of his meeting with
an Englljlinfan^ a Citizen o^Londoriy among the
Indiansy the great Riches he acquired, and his
Voyage Home to England: As alfb Captain
Singletoiis Return to Sea, with an Account of
his many Adventures and Pyracies with the
famous Captain Avery and others.
L O t7DON : Printed for J. Drotherton, at the Black BuU
in Cornhill^ J. Graves in St. James'^s Street^ A Dodd ar
the Peacock withour Temple bar^ and 3*. ^amer^ at the
Black Boy in Pater-lfofier-Row. 1720.
BAA I
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,/7. /"^^'f
(I)
THE
ADVENTURES
AND
PYRACIES, (ra
S it is ufual for great Perlbns
whole Lives have been remar-
kable, arid . whofe Anions de-
lerve Recording to Pofterityj
to iniift much upon their Ori-
ginalsj give full Accounts of
their Families, and the Hillo-
ries of their Anceftors: So, that
I may be methodical, 1 ihall do the fame, tho'
I can look but a very little Way into my ?£!-
digree as you -will fee prefently,
If 1 may believe the Woman, whom 1 was
taught to" call Mother, I was a little Boy, ot
about two Years old, very- well drefsM, had a
Kurfery Maid to tend rrie, who took me out
3 on
^^^^^^^^^^3
vSw
A
m
vg!i^[^ps^!Q'yV^^g^ftfe'l
i 1 'fp'^^^ ^y^"^ ^ Ij
( ^ )
on a fine Summfrr'^s Evening into the Fields to-
wards Jflington^ as fh'.; pretended , to give the
Child lome Air, a lutle Girl being with her of
Twelve or Fourteen Years old, that lived in tlie
Neighbourhood. The Maid, whether by Ap-
pointment or cthcrwife, meets with a Fellow,
her Sv^eet-heart, as I fuppofe ; he carries her
into a Piblick-Houfe, to give her a Pot and a
Cake: and while they were toying in the Houfe,
the Girl plays about with m.e in her Hand in
the Garden, and at the Dr».r, fometimes in Sight,
lometimes out of Sight, thinking no Harm.
At this JunOiure comes by one of thofe Sort
of People, who, it feems, made it their Bufinefs
to Spirit away little Children. This was a Hel-^
liih Trade in chofe Days, and chiefly pra^tifed
where they found little Children very well dreft,
or for bigger Children, to fell them to the
Plcfntations.
The Woman pretending to take me up in her
Arms and kifs me, and play with me, draws
the Girl a good Way from the Houle , till at
laft fhe makes a fine Story to the Girl , and
bids her go back to the Maid, and tell her where
ihe was with the Child •, that a Gentlewoman
had taken a Fancy to the Child, and was kiifing
of it, but fhe fliould not be frighted, or to that
Purpofe-, for they were but juft there-, andjfo
while the Girl went, ihe carries me quite away.
From this time it feems I was difpofed of to
a Beggar- Woman that wanted a pretty little
Child "to fet out her Cafe, and after that to
a Gypfey, under whofe Government I continued
till i was about Six Years old ^ and this Woman,
tho' I was continually dragged about with her,
from one Part of the Country to another, yet
never
( i)
iiever let me want for any thing, and I called-
her Mother ^ tho' ihe told me at laft, ihe was
not my Mother , but ^hat ihe bough": me for
Twelve Shillings of another Woman, vvho told
her how ihe came by me, and told her that: my
Name was Boh S'pgleton^ not Rchen^ but plain Bohj
for it feems they never knevv by what Name I
was Chriilen'd.
It is in vain to refle^i: here, what a terrib-e
Fright the carelefs Hufiy was in, that lofl me -^
what Treatment ili-w received from my juilly
enraged Father and Mother, and th.Q Horror
theie mull be in at the Thoughts of their Child
being thus carry'd away ; for as I never knew
any thing of the Matter, but juil what I have
related, nor who my Father and Mother were •
fo it would make but a needlefs Digreilion to talk
cjf It here.
My good Gy^fey Mother^ for Ibme of her wor-
thy Actions no doubt y happened in Procefs of Time
to be hang'd ; and as this fell out fome thing toc"^
loon for me to be perfected in. the Strollir-',
Trade, the Parifh where I was left, which for mv
life I can't remember, took Ibme Care of me ti*
be fure ; for the iiril thing I can remember of m^
lelf afterwards, was, that I went to a Pariih-
School, and the Minifter of the Pariih ufed to
talk to me to be a good Boy *, and that tho' I was
but a poor Boy, if I minded my Book, and fer-
ved God, I might make a good Man.
1 believe I was frequently removed from one
Town to another, perhaps as the Pariihesdifpu-
ted my fuppofcd Mother's lail Settlement. Whe-
ther I was fo ihifted by PafTes, or otherwife, I
know not ; but the Town where I laft was kept,
whatever its Name was, muit be not far olf from
B 2 the
r 4-)
the Sea Side*, for a Mafter of a Ship who took
a Fancy to me, was the firft that brought me
to a Place not far from Soiithamptony which I af-
terwards knew to be Buffcltcny and there I tended
the Carpenters, and fuch People as were em-
ploy'd in Building a Ship for him ^ and when it
was done, tho' I was not above Tfwelve Years
old, he carried me to Sea with him, on a Voyage
to Newfonndlarid.
I lived well enough, and pleafed my Mafter
fo well, that he called me his own Boy ^ and I
would have called him Father, but he would not
allow it, for he had Children of his own. I went
three or four Voyages with him, and grew a great
fturdy Boy, when coming Home again from the
Banks of Newfoundland^ we vv^re taken by an M-
gerine Rover, or Man of War*; which, if my Ac-
count flands right, was about the Year 1^95,
for you may be Hire I kept no Journal.
I was not much concerned at the Difafler, tho'
I faw my Mafter, after having been wounded by a
Splinter in the Head during the Engagement, ve-
ry barbaroufly ufed by the Turh *, / fay^ I was
not much concerned, till upon fome unlucky
thing I faid, which, as I remember, was about
abuiing my Mafter, they took me and beat me
moft unm.ercifully with a fiat Stick on^ the Soles
of my Feet, fo that I could neither go or fland
for feveral Days together.
But my good Fortune was my Friend upon
this Occafion ; for as they were failing away
with our Ship in Tow as a Prize, fleering
ff3r the Streights, and in Sight of the Bay of
Cadiz^y the Turhjh Rover was attack'd by two
great Tortuguefe Men of War, and taken and car-
ried into Lisbon,
As
(5)
As I was not much concerned at my Captivity,
not indeed underftanding the Confequences of it,
if it had continued^ fo I was not fuitably lenfible
of my Deliverance: Nor indeed was it fo much
a Deliverance to me, as it would oth3rwile ha'
been-, for my Mafter, who was the only Friend I
had in the World, died at Lisbon of his Wounds •,
and I being then almoft reduced to my primitive
State, viz,, of Starving, had this Addition to it,
that it was in a foreign Country too, where 1
knew no body, and could not fpeak a Word ot
their Language. However, I fared better here
than I had Reafon to expe£t-, for when all the reft
of our Men had their Liberty to go where they
would, I that knew not whither to go, ftaid in
the Ship for feveral Days, till at length one of
the Lieutenants feeing me, enquired what that
young Engliflj Dog did there, and why they did
not turn him on Shore?
I heard him, and partly underftpod what he
meant, tho' not what he faid, and began then to
be in a terrible Fright ^ for I knew not where to
get a Bit of Bread •, when the Pilot of the Ship,
an old Seaman, feeing me look ver}^ dull, came to
me, and {peaking broken EngUjli to me, told me,
I muft be gone. Whither muft I go (faid I ?)
Where you will, (faid he J, Home to your own
Country, if you will. How mufl I go thither
(faid I ? ) Why have you no Friend (faid he ?)
IsJo, (faid 1) not in the World, but that Dog,
pointing to the Ship's Dog, (who having ftole
a Piece of Meat juft before, had brought it clofe
by me, and I had taieen it from him, and eat
it) for he has been a good Friend, and brought
me my Dinner,
B 3 IVcil^
r 6)
Wellj TTf//, fays he, you muFl have your Dinner ;
IV. II you go with me ? Tes, fays I, with all my Heart.
In fl.ort, the old Pilot took me Home with him,
aud ufed me tolerably well, tho' I flired hard
enough, and I lived with him about two Years,
during which time he was (bll^'citlng his Bufinefs,
and at length got to be Mailer or Pilot under
Den Garcia de Fimcntefia de Carravallas^ Captain of
a Vortvgue[e Gallion, or Carrack, which was bound
to Coa in xh^ Ea^-Indics-^ and im,mediately ha-
ving gotten his Commifflon,' put me on Board
to look after his Cabbin, in which he had fto-
red himfelf with Abundance of Liquors, Sue-
cades, Sugar, Spices, and other things for his
Accommodation in the Voyage, and laid in af-
terwards a confiderable Quantity of European
Goods, tine Lace, and Linnen •, and alio Bays,
Woollen, Cloath, Styffs, &c. under the Pretence
of his Clothes.
I was too young in the Trade to keep any
JouFnal of this Voyage, tho' m.y Mafler, who
was for a Portuguefe a pretty gc^od Artill, prompted
me to it : But my not under ilanding the Lan-
guage, was one Hindrance \ at Jeail, it lerved
me for an Excuie. However, after fbme time
t b-^gan to look into his Charts and Books ^ and
as I could write a tolerable Hand, nnderflood
Ibme Latin^ and began to have a Smattering of
the Tortvgzicfe Tongue *, ^o 1 began to get a little
faporiicial Knowledge of Navigation, but not
ixxzh. as was likely to be fufficient to carry me
thro' a Life of Adventure, as mine was to be.
in jhoYt^ I learnt feveral material Things in this
Voyage among the Porttiguefe : I learnt particu-
larly to be an errant Thief and a bad Sailor;
and I think 1 may fay they are the befl Ma-
ft^rs
(7)
fteps for Teaching both thefe, of any Nation in
the World.
We made our Way for the EaB-Indies^ by the
Coaft of Brafil ^ not that it is in the Courfe of
Sailing the Way thither ; but our Captain, ei-
ther on his own Account, or by the Direction of the
Merchants, went thither firft, where at All Saims
Bay^ or as they call it in Portugal^ the ^/o de Todos
los Santosj we delivered near an Hundred Ton of
Goods, and took in a confiderable Quantity of
Gold, with Ibme Ch^fts of Sugar, and Seventy
or Eighty great Rolls of Tobacco, every Roil
•weighing at leaft loo Weight.
Here being lodged on Shore by my Mafter's
Order, I had the Charge of the Captain's Bufi-
nefs, he having feen me very diligent for my
own Mafler ^ and in Requital for his miftaken
Confidence, I found Means to fecure, that is to
fay, to fteal about twenty Moydores out of the
Gold that was Shipt on Board by the Merchants,
and this was my firft Adventure.
We had a tolerable Voyage from hence fo
the Cape de bona Sferanz^a *, and I was reputed
as ^mighty diligent Servant to my Mafter ,
and very faithful ( 1 was diligent indeed ,
but I was very far from honeft '^ however ,
they thought me honeft, which by the Way,
was their very great Miftake) upon this very
Miftake, the Captain took a particular Li-
king to me, and employ'd me frequently on
his own Occafions •, and on the other Hand, in
Recompence for my Officious Diligence, I re-
ceived leveral particular Favours from him;/
particularly, I was by the Captain's Command^ ;
made a kind of a Steward under the Ship's
Steward, for fuch Provifions as the Captain de-
B 4 manded
(S)
mandcd for his own Table. lie had another
Steward for his private Stores bcfides, but my
Office concerned only what the Captain called
^or of the Ship's Stores , for liis private
Ufe.
However, by this Means I had Opportunity
particularly to take Care of my Mafter's Man,
■\nd t(^ furnifli my felf with fufficicnt Provifions
to make me live much better than the other
People m the Ship *, fcr the Captain feldom or-
dered nrv th'iig out of the Ship's Stores , as
above, 1 ut I fnipt fome of it for my own Share*
We arrived at Goa in the Eaft-hdiesy in about le-
ven Month:^, from Lishcrj, and remained there
eight more ; during which Time I had indeed
nothing to do, my Mafter being generally on
Shore^ but to learn every thing that is wicked
among the Tcrtvgucfe^ a Nation the moft perfi-
dious and the moft debauchM, the mofi: infolent
and cruel, of any that pretend to call them-
felves Chriftians, in the World.
Thieving , Lying ^ Swearing , Forfwearing,
irrned to the mofi: abominable Lewdneis, was
the. datedv Practice of the Ship's Crew ^ addwg
to ity that with the moft unfufferable Boafts of
their rew Courage, they weregenerally fpeaking
the moft compleat Cpv^^ards that I ever met with ^
and the Coiifequence of their Cowardice was
evident upon many Cccafions. However, there
was here and there one among them that
was not fo bad as the reft *, and as my Lot fell
among them, it made me have the moft con^
temptible Thoughts of the reft, as iudeed the-^r
deferved,
i was exa£lly fitted for their Society indeed *,
for 1 fead. w ^enfe of Virtue or Religion upon
me,
(9)
me. I had never heard much of either, except
what a good old Parlbn had fliid to me when I
was a Child of about Eight or ISIine Years old^
nay, I was preparing, and growing up apace,
to be as wicked as any Body could be, or per-
haps ever was. Fate certainly thus directed my
Beginning, knowing that I had Work which I
had to do in the World, which nothing but one
hardened againft all Senfc of Honefty or Reli-
gion, could .go thro' ; and yet even in this State
of Original Wickednefs, I entertained fuch a
fettled Abhorrence of the abandoned Vilenefs of
the Tortuguefe^ that I could not but hate them
moft heartily from the Beginning, and all my Life
afterwards. They were fo brutiflily wicked, fb
bale and perfidious, nor only to Strangers, but
to one another ; fo meanly fubmiilive when fub-
je£i:ed •, fo inlblent, or barbarous and tyrannical
when fuperiour, that I thought there was Ibme-
thing in them that fhockM my very Nature.
Add to this, that 'tis natural to an Englijlman
to hate a Coward, it all joined together to make
the Devil and a Fortugnefe equally my Aveifion.
However, according to the Englijh Proverb,
He that is Shnffd with the Devil miiH [ml with the.
Devil ; I was among them, and I manag'd vaj
lelf as well as I could. My Maflrer had con-
fented that I ihould ailifl: the Captain in the
Office as above ; but as I underllood afterwards^
that the Captain allowed my Mafter Half a
Moydore a Month for my Service, and that
he had my Name upon the Ship's Books alfo,
I expeded that when the Ship came to be paid
four Months Wages at the Indies^ as they it feems
always do, my Mafler would let me have fome-.
ting for my felf.
But
( lo)
But I was wrong in my Man , for he was
noTie of tJiat Kind : He liad taken me up as in
Dilirels, and h's Btifmeis was to keep me fb,
and make his Market of me as well as he could;
which I began to think of after a different
Manner than I did at fir ft ^ for at firft I thought
he had entert?ined meinmeer Charity, upon
Jfeeing my diftreft Circumftances, but did not
doubr, but when he put me on Board the Ship,
I fhoufd have fome Wages for my Service.
But lie thouciht, it leems, quite otherwife ^ and
1^'hen I procu ed one to fpeak to him about it
when the Ship was paid at Goaj he flew into the
greateft Rage imaginable, and called me EngUflj
Dog, young Heretick, and threaten^ to put
me into the Inquifition. Indeed of all the Names
the Four and Twenty Letters could make up,
\q fliould not have called me Heretick*, for as
I knew nothing about Religion, neither Troteflant
from Tap} si ^ or either of them from a Mahome^
tfiji^ 1 could never be a Heretick. However, it
pals'd but a little, but as young as I was, I bad
been carried into the Inquifition; and there, if
they had ask'd me, if I was a Proteflant or a Catho-
VjcJiy I fliould have fliid Yes to that which came
firfl:. If it had been the Troteflant they had ask'd
Hrit, it had certainly made a Martyr of me for
T did not know what.
But the very Prieft they carried with them, or
Chaplain of the Ship, as we call him, faved me ;
for (being me a Boy entirely ignorant of Religion,
and ready to do or lay any thing they bid me,
he ask'd me ibme Queftions about it, which he
found I anfwered {o very fimply, that he took it
upon him to tell them, he would anfwer for my
being z good Catholick i and he hoped heihouid
be
r It )
be the Means of faving my Soul -^ and he pleafed
h'rafelf, that it was to be a Work of Merit to
him ; fo he made me as good a Papifir as any of
them in about a Week's Time.
I then told him my Cafe about my Mailer
how, it is true, he had taken me up in a mife'
rable Cafe, on Board a Man of War at Lisbon-^
and I was indebted to him for bringing me on,
Board this Ship ^ - that if I had been le^t at
Lisbon^ I might have ftarv'd, and the like : And
therefore I was willing to ferve him ^ but that I
hop'd he would give me fome little Confide ra-
tion for my Service, or let me know, how long
he expeded I iliould ferve him for nothing.
/ It was all one •, neither the Prieft or any one
elfe could prevail with him, but that I was not
his Servant but his Slave \ that he took me in
the Algerine-^ and that I was ^Turli. only preten-
ded to be an EngUjh Boy, to get my Liberty, and
he would carry me to the Inquifition as a 'f'nrk.
I This frighted me out of my Wits -, for I had no
body to vouch for me what I was, or from whence
I came ; but the good Padre Amonio^ for that was
his Name, cleared me of that Part by a Way I
did not underlland : For he came to me one
Morning with two Sailors, and told me they
mufl fearch me, to bear Witnefs that I was not
/ a TurL I was amazed at them, and frighted •, and
' did not underiland them ; nor could I imagine
what they intended to do to me. HoweVer,
Gripping me, they were foon fatisfy'd; and Fa-
t{ier Anthony bad me be eafy, for they could all
Witnefs that I was no Turk. So I efcaped that
Part of my Matter's Cruelty.
And now I refblved from that time 'io run
away from him if I could ^ but there was no
doing
( i^ ;
doing of it there j for there were not Ships of
any Ni^tion in the World in that Port, except
two or threetJPrr/7^;/ VeiTels from Ormus\ fb that
if I had offered to go ^way from him, he would
have had me feized on Shore, and brought on
Board by Force. So that I had no Remedy but
Patience, , and this he brought to an End too
as loon a? 2rt. could ; for after this he began to
ufe me ill, and not only to ftraiten my Provifi-
ons, but to beat and torture me in a barbarous
Manner for every Trifle ^ fo that in a Word my
Life began to be very miferable.
The Violence of this Ufage of me, and the
ImpoffibUity of my Efcape from his Hands, {^t
my Head a-working npon all Sorts of Mifchief ;
^Ti\ in particular, I refolved, after ihidying all
other Ways to deliver my felf, and finding all
1 ineffectual; I fay, I refolved to murther him.
With this Helliflri Refolution in my Head, I fpent
whole Kights and Days contriving how to put it
in Execution , the Devil prompting me very
warmly to the FaO:. I was indeed entirely at a
Lofs for the Means •, for I had neither Gun or
Sword, nor any Weapon to afTault him with.
Foiion I had my Thoughts much upon, but knew
not where to get any •, or if I might have got
it, I did not know the Country Word for it, or
by what Kame to ask for it.
' In this Manner I quitted the FaQ: intentio-
nally a Hundred and a Hundred Times ; but
Providence, either for his fake, or for mme, al-
ways frustrated my Defigns, and I could never
bring it to pafs •, fo I was obliged to continue
in his Chains till the Ship, having taken in her
loading, fet Sail for Tortugd^
I can
( ^n
I can fay nothing here to the Manner of our
Voyage *, for as I faid, I kept no Journal ; but
this 1 can give an Account of, that having been
once as high as the Cape of Good Hdfe^ as we call
it -^ or Cabo de hova SperaNza^ as they- call it, we
were driven back again by a violent Storm from
the W. S. W. which held us fix Days and
Kights, a great -Way to the Eaft ward-, and after
that {landing afore the Wi"nd for feveral Day-^.
more, we at lafl: came to an Anchor on the
Coaft of Madagafcar.
The Storm had been fo violent, that the Ship ,
had received a great deal of Damage , and it
required Ibme time to repair her *, fo ftanding
in nearer the Shore, the Pilot, My Mafter^
brought the Ship into a very good Harbour,
where we rid in Twenty fix Fathom Water,
about Half a Mile from the Shore.
While the Ship rode here, there happen'd a
moft defperate Mutiny among the Men, upon
Account of fome Deficiency in their Allowance,
which came to that Height, that they threatened
the Captain to fet him on Shore, and go back
with the Ship to Goa,, I wifh'd they would, with
all my Heart, for I was full of Mifchief in my
Head, and ready enough to do any. So, tho'
I was but a Boy, as fhey called m.e, yet I prom-
pted the Mifchief all I could, and embarked in
it fb openly, that I elcap'd very little being
hang'd in the firfl and moft early Part of my
Life; for the Captain had fome Kotice, that
there was a Defign, laid by fome of the Com-
pany to murther him-, and having partly by
Mon'ey and Promifes, and partly by Threatning
and Torture, brought two Fellows to confefs the
Particulars, and the Karnes of the Perfons con-
cerned.
( H)
cerned, they were prefently apprehended, till 6ne
accufmi; another, no lefs than fixteen Men wer6
leized, and put into Irons, whereof I was one.
The Captain, who was made defperate by his
Danger, relblving to clear the Ship of his Ene-
mies, try'd us all, and we were all condensed
to die. The Manner of his Procefs I was too
young to take Notice of ^ but the Purfer and
one of the Gunners were hang'd immediately,
and I expelled it with the reft. I do not remem-
ber any great Concern I was under about it, on-
ly that I cry'd very much^ for I knew little
then of this World, and nothing at all of the
next.
However, the Captain contented himfelf with
executing thefe two y and fbme of the reft, up-
on their hmble Submiilion, and Promife of fu-
ture good Behaviour, were pardoned ^ but five
were ordered to be fet on Shore on the Ifland,
and left there, of which I was one. My Mafter
ufed all his Intereft with the Captain to have
me excufed, but could not obtain it j for Ibme*
body having told him that I was one of them^
who was fingled out to have killed him, when
my Mafter deiired I might not be fet on Shore,
the Captain told him, I ftiould ftay on Board
if he deftred it, but then I ftiould be hang'd;
fo hQ might chuie for me which he thought
beft : The Captain, it feems, was particular-
ly provok'd at my being concerned in the Trea-
chery, becaufe of his having been lb kind to me,
and of his having ftngled me me out to ferve him,
as I have faid above *, and this perhaps obliged
him to give my Mafter fuch a rough Choice,
either to fet me on Shore, or to have me hang'd
on Board: And had my Mafter indeed known
what
. ^ '5 >
what good Will I had for him, he would not
ha' been long in chufiiig for me j for I had cer-
tainly determined to do him a Mifchief the
firft Opportunity I had had for it. This was
therefore a good Providence for me, to keep \
me from dipping my Hands in Blood, and it
made me more tender ixfter wards in Matters of
Blood, than I believe I Ihould otherwife have
been. But as to my being one of them that was
to kill the Captain, that I was wrong'd in, for I
was not the Perfon j but it was really one of them,
that were pardoned, he having the good Luck
not to have that Part difcovered.
I was now to enter upon a Part of indepen- Ij
dent Life, a thing 1 was indeed very ill prepared
to manage *, for I was perfediy loofe and diiTolute
in my Behaviour, bold and wicked while I was
under Government, and now perfectly unfit to be
trufted with Liberty ^ for I was as ripe for any
Villainy , as a young Fellow that had no iblii
Thought ever placed in his Mind could be fuppo-
led to be. Education, as you have heard, 1 Iiad
none *, and all the little Scenes of Life I had
pafs'd thro', had been full of Dangers and de-
fperate Circumrftances ^ but 1 was either fo
young, ar fo ftupid, that 1 elcaped the Grief and
Anxiety of them, for want of having a Senfe of
their Tendency and Conlequences.
This thoughtlefs, unconcern'd Temper had
one Felicity indeed in it ^ that it made me daring
and ready for doing any Mifchief, and kept o8
the Sorrow which other wife ought to have atten-
ded me when I fell into any Mifchief^ that this
Stupidity was inflead of a Happinefs to me, for
it left my Thoughts free to aft upon Means of
Elcape and Deliverance in my Dillrefs, how-
ever
( i6 )
ever great \c might be ^ whereas rAy Compani-
ons in the Milery, were fo funk by their Fear
and Grief, that they abandoned themielves to
the Miiery of their Condition, and gave over all
Thought but of their periihing and ftarving,
beir.g devoured by wild Beafts, murthered, and
perhaps eaten by Camihals^ and the like,
I was but a young Fellow abont 17 or 18 v
but hearing what was to be my Fate, I received it
with no Appearance of Difcouragement \ but I
asked what my Mafter faid to it, and being told
tiaat he had uled his utmoft Intereft to fave me,
but the Captain had anfwered I fhould either
go on Shore or be hanged on Board, which he
pleafed ; I then gave over all Hope of being re-
ceived again : I was not very thankful in my
Thoughts to my Mafter for his fblliciting the
Captain for me, becaufe I knew that what he did
was not in Kindnefs to me, fo much as in Kind-
nefs to himfelf ^ I mean to preferve the Wages
which he got for me, which amounted to above
fix Dollars a Month, including what the Cap-
tain allowed him for my particular Service
to him.
When I underftood that my Mafler was ib
apparently kind, I asked if I might not be ad-
mitted to fpeak with himi , and they told
me I might, if my Mafter would come down to
me, Istit I could not be allowed to come up to
him^ fo then I defired my Mafter might be
Ipoke to to come to me, and he accordingly
came to me ^ I fell on my Knees to him, and
begg'd he would forgive me what I had done to
*^ difpleaie him % and indeed the Refolution I had
taken to murther him, lay with Ibme Horrour
upon my Mind jufl at that Time, fo that I was
once
(^1 )
once jufl a-going to confefs it, and beg \v.m to
forgive me, but I kept it in : He told me he had
done all he could to obtain my Pardon of the
Captain, but could not •, and he knew no Way
for me but to have Patience, and fubmit to my
Fate-, and if they came to fpeak with any Ship
of their Nation at the Cape, Jie would endea-
vour to Jiave them ftand in, and fetch us off
^again if we might be found.
Then I begg'd I might have my Clothes on
Shore with me. He told me he was afraid I
ihould have little Need of Clothes, for he did
not lee how we could long llibfiil: on the liland,
and that he had been told that the Inhabitants
were Cannibals or Men-eaters (tho' he had nc Rea-
S^on for that Suggeftion) and we fhoald not be
able to live among them. I told him I was not
^o afraid of that, as I was of fiarving for want
of ViOiuals^ and as for the Inhabitants being
Cannibals J I believed we iliould be more likely
to eat them, than they us, if we could but get
at them: But I was mightily concerned, I faid,
we fhould have no Weapons with us to defend
our felves, and 1 begg'd nothing now, but that he
would give me a Gun and a Sword, with a little
Powder and Shot.
He fmiled and faid, they would fignify no-
thing to us, for it was impoffible for us to pretend
to prelerve our Lives among fuch a populous
and defperate Nation as the People of the Ifland
were. I told him, that however it would do
us this Good, for we ihould not be devoured or
deftroy'd immediately ; fo I begged hard for the
Gun. At laft he told me, he did not know whe-
ther the Captain would give him Leave to give
me a Gun, and if not, he durll: not do it -, but
C he
(,s;
he promilcd to ufe his Interefl to obtairj It formc^"
which he did, z\id the next Day he lent me a Gun,
with fome Ammunition, but told "me, the Cap-
tain would not fuffer the Ammunition to be given
us, till we were ict all on Shore, and till he was juft
going to fet Sail. He alio fent me the few
Clothes I had in the Ship, which indeed were
not many.
Two Days after this we were all carried on
Shore togeth<?r :, the reft of my Fellow-Criminals
hearing 1 had a Gun, and fome Powder and Shot,
follicited for Liberty to carry the like with them,
which was alio granted them ^ and thus we were
let on Shore to {Fiift for our felves.
At our firft coming into the Ifland, we were
terrified exceedingly with the Sight of the bar-
barous People ; whofe Figure was made more
terrible to us than really it was, by the Report
we had of them from the Seamen ^ but when we
came to converle with them a while, we found
they were not Cannibals^ as was reported, or
fuch as would fall immediately upon us and eat
us up ^ but they came and fat down by us, and
wondered much at our Clothes and Arms, and
made Signs to give us Ibme Viduals, fuch as
they had, which was only Roots and Plants dug
out of the Ground, for the prefent, but they
brought us Fowls and Fleili afterwards in good
Plenty.
This encouraged the other four Men that
were with me very much, for they were quite
dejected before \ but now they began to be very fa-
miliar with them, and made Signs, that if they
would ufe us kindly, we would ftay and live
with them:, which they feemed glad of, tho'
they knew little of the Kecefity we were under
to
( ^9 )
to do fo, or how much we were afraid of
them.
However, upon other Thoughts, we refolved
that we would only ftay in that Part fo long
as the Ship rid in the Bay, and then making
them believe we were gone with the Ship, we
would go and place our felves, if poffible, w^ero
there were no Inhabitants to be lee a, and fo
Jive' as we could, or perhaps watch for a Ship
that might be driven upon the Coaft, as we were.
The Ship continued a Fortnight in the Road
repairing fome Damage which had been done
her in the late Storm, and taking in Wood and
Watery and during this time the "Boat coiriini^
often on Shore, the Men brought us ieveral
Refrefhments, and the Katives believing we only
belonged to the Ship, were civil enough. Wd
lived in a kind of a Tent on the Shore, or rather
a Hut, which we made with the Boughs of
Trees, and forrietimes in the Night retired
to a Wood a little out of their Way, to let them
think we were gone on board the Ship. How-
ever, we found them barbarous, treacherous,
and villainous enough in their Nature, only civil
for Fear, and therefore concluded we flioruld loon
fall into their Hands when the Ship was gone.
The Senfe of this wrought upon my Fellow-
Sufferers even to Diflradion ^ and one of them,
beinp; a Carpenter, in his mad Fit, fwam off
to the Ship in the Night, . t ho' fhe lay then a
League to Sea, and made fuch pitiful Moan to
be taken in, that the Captain was prevailed
with at laftto take him in, tho' they let him
lye fwimming three Hours in the Water before
he confeatedr to it.
( ao )
UpOi^ thisj and his humble Submiilion, the Cap-
tain received him, and, in a word, the Importu-
nity of this Man (who for fome time petition'd
to be taken in, tho' they hanged him as loon as
they had him) was fuch as could not be refifted;
for, after he had fwam lb long about the Ship,
he was not able to liave reached the Shore agam ;
and the Captain faw evidently that the Man
muft be taken on Board, or fulTered to drown,
and the whole Ship's Company offering to be
bound for him for his good Behaviour, the Cap-
tain at laft yielded, and he was taken up, but
almoft dead with his being fo long in the
Water.
When this Man was got in, he never left Im-
porfeining the Captain and all the reft of the
Oincers in Behalf of us that were behind,
but to the very laft Day the Captain was in-
exorable ; when, at the time their Preparations
were making to fail, and Orders given to hoift
the Boats into the Ship, all the Seamen in a Bod^
came up to the Rail of the Quarter-Deck, where
the Captain was walking with fome of his Of-
ficers, and appointing the Boatfwain to fpeak
for them, he went up, and falling on his Knees
to the Captain, begged of him in the humbleft
manner poiTible, to receive the four Men on
Board again, oifering to anfwer for their Fide-
lity, or'to have them kept in Chains till they
came to Lisbon ^ and there to be delivered up
to Juftice, rather than, as they faid, to have
them left to be murthered by Savages, or de-
voured by wild Beafts. It was a great while e'er
the Captain took any Notice of them, but when he
did he ordered the Boatiwain to be feized, and
threat*
( ^I )
threatned to bring him to the Capflern for
fpeaking for them.
Upon this Severity, one-of the Seamen, bolder
than the reft, but ftill with all polTible Refpe6t:
to the Captain, belbught his Honour, as he cal-
led him, that he would give Leave to fome more
of them to go on Shore, and die with their
Companions, or, if poiTible, to aflift them to
refift the Barbarians. The Captain, rather pro-
voked thancowd with this, came to the Barricado '
of the Quarter-Deck, and {peaking very prudent-
ly to the Men, (for, had he fpoken roughly,
two Thirds of them would have lefc the Ship,
if not all of them) he told them, it was for their
Safety as well as his own, that he had been obli-
ged to that Severity *, that Mutiny on board a
Ship was the fame thing as Treafbn in the King's
Palace, and he could not anfwer it to his Owners
and Employers to truft the Ship and Goods Com-
mitted to his Charge, with Men who had enter-
tained Thoughts of the worft and blackeft >^a-
ture -^ that he wiflied heartily thai: it had been
any v/here elfe that they had been fet on Shore,
where tliey might have been in lefs Hazard
from the Savages^ that if he had defigned they
ihould be deftroyed, he could as well have e^^e-
cuted them on board as the other two:^ that he
wiihed it had been in fome other Part of the
World, where he might have delivered- them
up to the Civil Juftice, or might have left them
among Chriftians-, but that it was better their
Lives were put in Hazard, than his Life,v and the
Safety of the Ship-, and that tho' he did not
know that he had deferved fo ill t)f any ot them,
as that they fhou-ld leave the Ship, rather than
do their Duty •, yet if any of them were reioived
C i to
( ^' )
to do fo unlefs he would confent to tnke a Gang o
Traytors on board, who, as he had proved be-
fore them all, had confpired to murther him,
he woald not hinder them, nor, for the prefent,,
would he fefent their Importunity •, but if there
was no body left in the Ship but liimfelf, he
would ne^^r confent to take them on board.
This Difcourfe was delivered fo well, was in
It felf fb realonable, was managed with lomucli
Temper, yet fo boldly concluded with a Nega-
tive, that the greatefi Part of the Men were fa-
tisfied for the prefent : However, as it put the
Men into Jun£l:o's and Cabals, and they were not
compcfed for fome Hours* the Wind alfo flacken-
jng towards Kight, the Captain ordered not to
weigh till next Morning.
The fame Kight 23 of the Men, among whom
was the Gunner's Mate, the Surgeon's AfTiftant^
and two Carpenters, applying to the Chief Mate,
told him., that as the Captain had given them
Leave to go on Shore to their Ccmerades, they
begged, that he would fpeak to the Captain not
to take it ill that they were deftrous to go and
die with their Companions ; and that they
thought they could do no lefs in luch an Exr
tremity, than go to them :^ becaufe'if there was
r:ny way to five their Lives, it was by adding
to their Num.bers, and making them ftrong
enough to ailift one another in defending them-
ielves againft the Savages, till perhaps they might
one timie or other find Means to make their
Efcape, and get to their own Country again.
The Mate told them in fo many Words, that
he durfl: not ipeak to the Captain upon any" fiich
Defign, and was very lorry they had no more
j^plpetc for him, than to defire him to go of
fucl:^
( ^5 )
iiich nn Errand ; but if they were rell)lved up-
on fucli an Enterprize, he would advife them to
take the Long-Boat in the Morning betimes, and
go off, feeing the Captain had given them Leave,
and leave a civil Letter behind thfem to the
Captain, and to defire him to fend his Men on
Shore for the Boat, which fhould be delivered
very honeftly, and he promifed to keep their
Counfel fb long.
Accordingly an Hour before Day, thole 23
Men, with every Man a Fire-lock and Cutlafs,
with fome Piftols, three Halbards or Half-Pikes,
and good Store of Powder and Ball, without any
Provifion but about Half an Hundred of Bread,
but with all their Chefts and Clothes, Tools,
Infl-ruments, Books, &c. embarked themlelves fb
filently, that the Captain got no Notice of it till
they were gotten half the Way on Shore.
As foon as the Captain heard of it, he called
for the Gunner's Mate, the Chief Gunner being at that
time fick In his Cabblny and ordered to fire at them ;
but, to his great Mortification, the Gunner's
Mate was one of the Number, and was gone with
them , and indeed it wa^? by his Means they
got fb many Arms, and fb much Ammunition.
When the Captain found how it was, and that
there was no Help for it, he began to be a little
appeafed, made light of it, and called up the
Men, Ipoke kindly to them, and told them he
was very well fatisRed in the Fidelity and Abi-
lity of thofe that were now left •, and that he
would give to them, for their Encouragement,
to be divided among them, the Wages which was
due to the Men that were gone ; and that it was a
great Satisfaction to him that the Ship was freed
C 4 from
( H)
Mom fach a mutinous Rabble, who had not the
leafl Reaibn for their Difcontent.
The Men leemed very well latisfied, and par-
ticularly the Promife of the Wages of thofe that
Avere gone, went a great way with them. After
this the Letter which was left by the Men was
given to the Captain, by his Boy, with whom,
it feems, the Men had left it. The Letter was,
much to the fame Purpofe of what they had faid
to the Mate, and which he declined to fay
for them •, only that at the End of their Letter
they told the Captain, that as they had no dif-
honeft Defign, io they had taken nothing away
with them which was not their own, except
Ic^me Arms and Ammunition, fuch as were ab-
loiute^y neceiTary to them, as well for their De-
fence againft the Savages, as to kill Fowls or
Beafts for their Food, that they might not pe-
rifh •, and as there were confiderable Sums due
to them for Wages, they hoped he would al-
low the Arms and Amm^mition upon their Ac-
counts. They told him., that as to the Ship's
Long-Boat wfrch they had taken to bring them
on. Shore, they knew it was neceffary to him,
and they were very willing to reftore it to him ^
j and if he pleafed to lejid for it, it fhould be very
\ honeftly delivered to his Men, and not the leaft
' Injury offered to any of thole who came for. it,
nor the leaft Perfwafion or Invitation made ule
of to any of them to ftay with them ^ and at
the Bottom of the Letter they very humbly be-
fbught him, that for their Defence, and for the
Safety of their Lives he would be plealed to fend
them a Barrel of Powder, and Ibme Ammuni-
tion, and give them Leave to keep the Maft
and
(^5 )
and Sail of the Boat, that if it was pofTible for
them to make themfelves a Boat of any kincL
they might ihifc off to Sea to fave themfelves ht
fuch Part of the World as their Fate fhould di^
red: them to.
Upon this the Captain, who had won much
upon the reft of his Men by what he had faid
to them, and was very eafy as to the General
Peace *, (for it was very true, that the moft mu-
tinous of the Men were gone) came out to the
Quarter-Deck, and calling th3 Men together,
let them know the Subftance of the Letter ^ and
told the Men, that however they had not de-
ferved fuch Civility from him, yet he was not
willing to expofe them more than thev were wil-
ling to expole themfelves, he was inclined to
lend them fome Ammunition •, and as they had
defired but one Barrel of Powder, he would fend
them two Barrels, and Shot, or Lead, and
Moulds to make Shot in proportion: and, to
let them lee that he was civiller to them than
they deferved, he ordered a Cask of Arrack,
and a great Bag of Bread to be fent them for
Subfiftence, till they fnould be able to furniih
themfelves.
The reft of the Men applauded the Captain's
Generofity, and every one of them fent us
fbme thing or other ; and about three in the A f-
ternoon the Pinnace came on Shore, and broua;h*:
us all thefe things, which we were very c^lad
of, and returned the Long-Boat accordinu;ly •
and as to the Men that came with the Pirauace,
as the Captain had ftngled out fuch Men as he
knew would not come over to us, fo they had
pofitive Orders noc to bring any one of us on,
board again, upon Pain of Death ^ and indeed
both
( ^6 )
both were fo true to our Points, that we neither
asked them to ftay, nor they us to go.
We were now a good Troop, being in all 27
Men, very well anned and provided with every
thing but Victuals:, we had two Carpenters
among us, a Gunner, and, which was worth all
the reft, a Surgeon or Doctor, that is to faf , he
was an AiTiftant to a Surgeon at GoUy and was
entertained as Supernumerary with us : The
Carpenters had brought all their Tools, the
Dodor all his Inftruments and Medicines, and
indeed we had a great deal of Baggage, that is
to fay, in the whole, for fome of us had little
JTiore than the Clothes on our Backs, of whom
I was one '^ but I had one thing which none of
them hnd vItl. 1 had the 22 ?vloydores of Gold,
which I ftole at the Brafdsj and two Pieces of
Eight. The two Peices of Eight I ihewed, and
one Moydore, but no more*, and none of them ever
fuipe^led that I had any more Money in the World,
having been known to be only a poor Boy taken up
in Charity, as you have heard, and ufed like a
Slave, and in the worl^ Manner of a Slave, by
my cruel Mafter the Pilot.
It will be eafy to imagine we four, that were
left at firft, were joyful, nay, even fui'prized
with Joy, at the coming of the reft, tho' at firft
we were frighted, and thought they came to fetch
us back to hang us-, but they took ways quick-
ly', to fatisfy us that they were in the fame Con-
dition with us, only with this additional Cir-
rumftance, that theirs was voluntarily, and o\irs
by Force.
' The firft Piece of News they told us after the
fhort Hiftory of their coming away, was, that
cur Companion was on board, but hew he got
thither
thither we could not imagine ^ ibr he had given us
theSlip, and we never imagined he could fwlm.
fo well as to venture off to the Ship, which lay
at fo great a Diftance •, nay, we did not fo much
as know that he could fwim at all, and not
thinking any thing of what really happenM, we
thought that he muft have wandered into the
Woods, and was devoured, or was fallen into the
Hands of the Natives and was murthered *, and
thele Thoughts filled us with Fears enough, and
of lever al kinds, about its being Ibme time or
other our Lot to fall into their Hands alfb.
But hearing how he had with much Difficulty
been received on board the Ship again, and par-
don'd, we were much better fatisfied than
before.
Being now, as I have faid, a confiderabk Num*
ber of us, and in Condition to defend our lelves,
the firft thing we did was to give every one his
Hand, that we would not leparate from one
another upon any Occafion whatlbever, but that
we would live and die together^ that we would
kill no Food, but that we would diftribute it in
publick^ and that we would be in all things
guided by the Majority, and not infift upoit
our own Relblutions in any thing, if the Majority
were againft it*, that we would appoint a Gap-
tain among us to be our Governour or Leader
during Pleafure ^ that while he was in Office, we
would obey him without Relerve, on Pain of
Death ^ and that every one ihould take Turn,
but the Captain was not to afl: in any particular
thing without Advice of the reft, and by the
Majority.
Having eftabliflied thefe Rules, we refolved ■
enter into feme Meafures for our Food, and for
coiiver
f .8 j
ccnverfing with the Inhabitants or Natives of
the Ifland, for Our Supply^ as for Food, they
were at firft very ufeful to us, but we loon grew
weary of them, being an ignorant, ravenous,
brutiih fort of People, even worfe than the Na-
tives of any other Country that we had feen ^
and we foon found that the principal Part of our
Subfiftance was to be had by our Guns, ihoot-
ing of Deer and other Creatures, and Fowls of
all other Sorts, of which there is Abundance.
We found the Natives did not diflurb or con-
cern themfelves much about us ; nor did they
enquire, or perhaps know whether we ftay'd
among them or not, much lefs that our Ship
was gone quite away, and had caft us off, as
was our Cafe^ for the next Morning after we
had lent back the Long^Boat , the Ship flood
away to the South-Eaft, and in four Hours time
was out of our Sight.
The next Day two of us went out into the
Country one Way, and two another, to lee what
kind of a Land we were in *, and we loon found
the Country was very pleafant and fruitful, and
a convenient Place enough to live in • but as be-
fore, inhabited by a Parcel of Creatures fcarce
human, or capable of being made Ibciable on any
Account whatfoever.
We found the Place full of Cattle and Pro-
vifions ^ but whether we might venture to take
them where we could find them, or not, we
did not know ; and tho' we were under a Necefli-
ty to get ProviHons, yet we were loath to bring
down a whole Nation of Devils upon us at once,
and therefore fome of our Company agreed to
try to fpeak with fome of the Country, if we
could, that we might fee what Courfe was to be
taken
i^9)
taken with them. Eleven of our Men went of
thts Errand, well armed, and fiirniihed for De-
fence. They brought Word, that they had
feen fbme of the Natives, who appeared very
civil to them, but very fhy and afraid, feeing
their Guns ^ for it was eaiy to perceive, that
the Natives knew what their Guns were, and
what Ufe they were of.
They made Signs to the Natives for fome Food,
and they went and fetched leveral Herbs and
Roots, and fome Milk *, but it was evident
they did not defign to give it away, but to lell,
making Signs to know what our Men would
give them.
Our Men were perplexed at this, for they
had nothing to Barter :, however, one of the
Men pulled out a Knife and fhewed them, and
they were fo fond of it, that they were ready
to go together by the Ears for the Knife : The
Seaman feeing that, was willing to make a good
Market of his Knife, and keeping them chaffer-
ing about it a good while, iome offered hira
Roots, and others Milk ^ at lail one offered him
a Goat for it, which he took. Then another
of our Men iliewed them another Knife, but
they had nothing good enough for that y where-
upon one of them made Signs that he would
go and fetch fomething •, fo our Men ftay'd three
Hours for their Return, when they came back
and brought him a fmall fized, thick, ihort
Cow, very fat, and good Meat, and gave him
for his Knife.
This was a good Market, but our Misfortune
was we had no Merchandize ; for our Knives
were as needful to us as to them, and but that
we were in Diflrefs for Food, and mufl of Ne-
ceilit/
( HO ;
cefTity have Ibme, thefe Men would not have
parted with their Knives.
However, in a little time more we found that
the Woods were full of living Creatures which
we might kill foif our Food, and that without
giving Offence to them ^ fo that our Men went
3aily out a Huntnig, and never failed to kill
Something or other •, for as to the Natives, w6
had no Goods to Barter ^ and for Money, all
the Stock among us would not have fubfiftcd
us long-, however, we called a general Council
to lee what Money we had, and to bring it
all together, that it might go as far as pDfhble •
and when it came to my Turn, I pulled out
a Moydore and the two Dollars I fpoke of
before.
This Moydore I ventured to fhew, that they
might notdefpife me too much for adding too
little to the Store, and that they might not
pretend to fearch me ^ and they were very ci-
vil to me upon the Preiumption that I had been
fo faithful to them as not to conceal any thing-
from them.
But our Money did us little Service, for the
People neither knew the Value or the Ufe of
it, nor could they juftly rate the Gold in Pro-
portion with the Silver -^ fo that all our Money,
which was not much when it was all put to-
gether,, would go but a little way with us, that
is to fay, to buy us Provifions.
Our next Confideration was to get away from
this curfed Place, and whether to go ^ when my
Opinion came to be asked, 1 told them I would
leave that all to them, and I told them I had
rather they would let me go into the Woods
to get them fome Provifions, than confult with
me,
( 51 )
liie, for I would agree to whatever they did^
but they would not agree to tliat, for they
would not confent that any of us ihould go into
the Woods alone ^ for tho' we had yet feen no
Lions or Tygers in the Woods, we were affured
there were many in the Ifland, befides other
Creatures as dangerous, and, perhaps worie,
as we afterwards found by our own Experience.
We had many Adventures in the Woods for
our Provifions, and often met with wild and
terrible Beafts, which we could not call by their
Names, but as they were like us fee king their
Prey, but were themfelves good for nothing,
fb we dif^urbed them as little as poffible.
Our Confliltations concerning our Efcape from
this Place, which as I have faid, we were now
upon, ended in this only, that as we had two
Carpenters among us, and that they had Tools
almoft of all Sorts with them, we fhould try
to build us a Boat to go off to Sea with, and that
then perhaps we might find our way back to
Goa, or land on fbme more proper Place to make
our Efcape. The Counfels of this AlTembly
were not of great Moment, yet as they feem
to be introductory of many more remarkable
Adventures which happened under my Con-
du£l: hereabouts many Years after, I' think this
Miniature of my future Enterprizes may not be
unpleafant to relate.
To the Building of a Boat I made no Ob-
jection, and away they went to work imme-
diately ^ but as they went on, great Difficulties
occurred, fuch as want of Saws to cut out Plank;
Nails, Bolts, and Spikes, to faflen the Timbers,
Hemp, Pitch and Tar, to Caulk and Pay her
Seams, and the like : At length one of the Com-
pany
( 5^ )
paiiy propofed, that inftcad of building a Bark
or Sloop, or Shalloiip, or whatever theV would
call it, which they found was fo difficult, they
fhould rather make a large Pm^^z^^, or Canoe,
which might be done with great fiafe.
It was prefently objected, that we could never
make a Canoe large enough to pafs the great
Ocean, which we were to go over, to get to
the Coafl of Malabar^ that it not only would
not bear the Sea, but it would never bear the
Burthen^ for we were not only Twenty ^Qven
Men of us, but had a great deal of Luggage
with us, and muft, for our Provifion, take in a
great deal more.
I never propofed to fpeak in their General
Confultations before •, but finding they we^ at
ibme Lofs about what kind of Velfel they fhould
make, and how to make it-, and what would be
fit for our Ufe, and what not •, I told them I
found they #ere at a full Stop in their Counfels
of every kind ^ that it was true we couid never
pretend to go over to Goa^ or the Coafl of
MaUhar in a Canoe, which tho' we could all
get into it, and that it would bear the Sea
well enough, yet would not hold our Provi-
lions, and cfpecially we could not put frefh
Water encigh into it for the Voyage •, and to
make fach an Adventure would be nothing but
meer running into certain Dedruftion, and yet
that neverthelefs 1 was for making a Canoe.
They anfwered, that they underflood all I had
faid before well enough, but what I meant by
telling them frrft how dangerous and impoflible
it was to make our Efcape in a Canoe, and yet
then to advile making a Canoe, that they couid
not underftand.
To
(3?;
To this 1 anfwer'd, that I Gonceiv'd our Bufi-
iiefs was not to attempt our Efcape in a Canoe,
but that as there were other VefTels at Sea be-
fides our Ship^ and that there were few Nations
that lived on the Sea-Shore that were ib barbae
rous, but that they went to Sea in fome Boats
or other, our Buiinefs was to cruife along the
Coaft of the Ifland, which was very long, and
to feize upon the fir ft we could get that was bet-
ter than our own, and fb from that to another,
till perhaps we might at laft get a good Ship
to carry us whither ever we pleafed to go.
Excellent Advice, fays one of them, admira-
ble Advice, fays another. Yes, yes, fays the
third, which was the Gunner, the Engliflj Dog
has given excellent Advice^ but it is juft the
way to bring us all to the Gallows *, the Rogue
has given Devil ifli Advice, indeed, to go a
Thieving, till from a little Veffel we come to a
great Ship, and ib we ihall turn downright
Pyrates, the End of which is to be hanged.
You may call us Pyrates, fays another, if you
will, and if we fall into bad Hands, we may be
ufed like Pyrates; but I care not for that. Til
be a Pyrate, or any thing, nay, I'll be hang'd
for a Pyrate, rather than ftarve here ^ and there-
fore I think the Advice is very good-, and fb
they cry'd all, Let us have a Canoe. The Gun-
ner over-ruled by the reft, fubmitted ^ but as
we broke up the Council, he came to me, takes
me by the Hand, and looking into the Palm of
my Hand, and into my Face too, very gravely.
My Lad, fays k, thou art born to do a World
of Mifchief ; thou haft commenced Pyrate very
young, but have a Gate of the Gallows, young
D Man;
( ^4 )
Man ^ hav-e a Care, I fliy, for thou wilt be an
eminent Thief.
1 laugh'd at hijn, and told him, I did not
know what I might come to hereafter :; but as
our Cafe was now, I fhould make no Scruple to
take the firft Ship 1 came at, to get our Liber-
ty : I only wiih'd we could fee one, and come
at her. |uft while we were talking, one of our
Men that was at the Door of our Hutt, told us,
that the Carpenter, who, it feeras, was upoa a
Hill at a Diftance, cried out, a Sail, a Sail.
We all turn'd out immediately \ but tho' it
was very clear Weather, we could fee nothing;
but the Carpenter continuing to holloo to us, a
Sail, a Saily away we run up the Hill, and there
we faw a Ship plainly ;, but it was at a very great
Diftance, too far for us to make any Signal to
her. However, we made a Fire upon the Hill,
with all the Wood we could get together, and
made as much Smoke as poffible. The Wind
was down, and it was almoft calm-, but as we
thought by a Perfpeftive Glafs which the Gun-
ner ^had in his Pocket, her Sails were full,
and flie flood away large with the Wind at
E. ISl. E. taking no Kotice of our Signal,
but making for the Cape de bona Speranz^a ^ fo
we had no "Comfort from her.
We went therefore immediately to Work about
our intended Canoe, and having fingled out a ve-
ry large Tree to our Mind, we fell to Work with
her 1 and having three good Axes among us, we
got it down, but it \vas four Days time firft, tho'
we worked very, hard too. I do not remember
what Wood it was, or exaftly what Dimenfi-
ons •, but I remember that it was a very large one,
aiid we wove as much encouraged when we laun-
ched
( ^s )
ched it, and found it fwam upright and fteady,
as we would have been at another time, if we
had a good Man of War at our Command.
She was fo very large, that ihe carried us all
very eafily, and would have carried two or
^three Ton of Baggage with us •, fo that we began
to confult, about going to Sea dire£l:lv to Goa ^ but
many other Confide rat ions checked that Thought,
efpecially when vve came to look nearer into it -
fuch asWant of Provifions, and no Casks for frefli
Water ^ no Compafs to fleer by :, no Shelter from >
the Breach of the high Sea, which would cer-
tainly founder us ^ noDefence from the Heat of
the Weather, and the like , fo that they all came
readily into my Proje^V, to cruife about where
we were, and fee what might offer.
Accordingly, to gratify our Fancy, we-weiit
one Day all out to Sea in her together, and we
were in a very fair Way to have had enough of
it *, for when fhe had us all on Board, and that
v/e were gotten about Half a League to Sea, there
happening to be a pretty high Swell of the Sea,
tho' little or no Wind, yet fhe wallow'd fb in
the Sea, that we all of us thought flie would
at lafl wallow her felf Bottom up ^ fo we fet
all to Work to get her in nearer the Shore, and
giving her frefh Way in the Sea, fhe fwam more
fteady, and with fome hard Work we got her
under the Land again.
We were now at a great Lofs^ the Natives
were civil enough to us, and Came often to dil^
courfe with us ^ one time they brought one whom
they fhew -d Refped to as a King, with them,
and they fet up a long Pole between them and
us, with a great Toifel of Hair -hanging, not on
the Top, but fome^ing above the Middle of it,
D z adorn'd
( ?6)
adoruM with little Chains, Shells, Bits of Brai5,
and the like •, and this we underftood afterwards
was a Token of Amity and Friend/hip, and they
brought down to us Vi^iuals in Abundance, Cat-
tel, Fowls, Herbs, Roots, but we were in the
utmoft Confufion on our Side •, for we had no-
thing to buy with, or exchani^e for ^ and as to
giving us things for nothing, they had no No-
tion of that again. As to our Money, it was
meer Traih to them, they had no Value for it ^
fo that we were in a fair Way to be ftarved.
Had we had but Ibme Toys and Trinckets, Brafs
Chains, Baubles, Glafs Beads, or in a Word, the
verieft Trifles that a Ship Loading would not have
been worth the Freight, we might have bought
Cattel and Provifions enough for an Army, or
to Visual a Fleet of Men of War, but for Gold
or Silver we could get nothing.
Upon this we were in a ftrange Confternati-
on. I was but a young Fellow, but I was for
falling upon them with our Fire Arms-, and
taking all the Cattel from them, nnd fend them
to the Devil to flop their Hunger, rather than
be flarved our felves ; but 1 did not confider
that this might have brought TenThoufand of
them down upon us the next Day -^ and tho'
we might have killed a vaft Number of them,
and perhaps have frighted the reft, yet their
own Defperation, and our iinall Number, would
have animated them fo, that one time or other
they would ha^^ de^roy'd us all.
In the Middle of our Confultat'on , one of
our Men who had been a kind of a Cutler, or
Worker in Iron, ftarted up, and ask'd the Car-
penter, if among all hisToob he could not help
him- to a File. ^Yes, fays the Carpenter, I can,
but
( ?7 ;
but it is a fmall one. The fmaller the better,
li\ys the other. Upon this he goes to Work,
and firft by heating a Piece of an old broken
ChilTel in the Fire, and then with the Help of
his File, he made himfelf feveral Kinds of Tools
for his Work *, and then he takes three or four
Pieces of EigJit, and beats them out with a Ham-
mer upon a Stone, till they were very broad and
thin, then he cut them out into the Shape of
Birds and Beafts •, he made little Chains of them
for Bracelets and Necklaces, and turn'd them in-
to ih many Devices, of his own Head, that it is
hardly to be exprefl.
When he had for about a Fortnight exercifed
his Head and Hands at this Work, we try'd the
Effect of his Ingenuity •, and having another Mee-
ting with the Natives, were furprized to fee the
Folly of the poor People. For a little Bit of
Silver cut out in the Shape of a Bird, we had
two Cows-, and, which was our Lofs, if it had
been in Brafs, it had been ft" 11 of more Value,'
For one of the Bracelets made of Chain-work,
we had as much Provifion of leveral Sorts, as
would fairly have been worth in EngUnd^ Fifteen
or Sixteen Pounds •, and fo of all the reft. Thus,
that which when it was in Coin was not worth
Six-pence to us, when thus converted into Toys
and Trifles, was worth an Hundred Times its
real Value, and purchafed for us any tiling we
had Occafion tor.
In this Condition, we lived upwards of a Year,
but all of us began to be very much tir'd of it, and
whatever came of it, refblv'd to attempt an Efcape.
We had furnifhed our felves with no lefs than
three very good Canoes :, and as the MmfooneSy
or Trade-Winds, generally affeft that Country^
D 3 l>lo\vin^
( 5M
blowing in moft Parts ot thisliland one fix Months
of a Year one Way, and the other fix Months
another Way, we concluded we might be able
to bear the Sea well enough. But always when
we came to look nearer into it, the Want of
freih Water was the thing that put us off from
llich an Adventure, for it is a prodigious Length,
and what no Man on Earth could be able to
perform without Water to drink.
Being thus prevailed upon by our own Rea-
fon to fet the Thoughts of that Voyage afide,
we had then but two things before us •, one was,
to put to Sea the other Way, viz.. Weft, and go
<iway for the Cafe of Good Hoje^ where firft or
laft we fhould meet with fbme of our own Coun-
try Ships, or elfe to put for the main Land of
Africa, and either travel by Land, or fail along
the Coaft towards the Red Sea, where we ftiould
firft or laft find a Ship of fome Nation or other,
that would take us up, or perhaps we might take
them up '^ whichj by the bye, was the thing that
always run in my Head.
It was our ingenious Cutler, whom ever after
we called Silver S7mth^ that propofed this ^ but
the Gunner told him, that h^ had been in the
ked Sea, in a Mdahar Sloop, and he knew this,
that if we went into the Red Sea, we fhould
either be killed by the wild Arahs^ or taken and
jnade Slaves of by the turh *, and therefore he
was not for going that Way.
Upon this 1 took Occafion to put in my Vote
again. IF/jy, faid I, do we talk of being killed by the
Arabs, or made Slaves of by the Turks ? Are we not
able to board almoFi- anyVeffd we jhall meet with in
thofe Seas f, and inftead of their taking uSy we to take
l^hemf Well done, Tyrate^ faid the Gunner, ha
that
( 59)
tliat had look'd in my Hand, and told me I
fhould come to the Gallows ^ Til fay that for
blmy fays he, he always looks the fame Way. But I
think o" my Confdence^ 'tis our only Way now. Don't
tell me, f^jly of b^ing a Pyrate, we muft bePyrates,
or any things to get fairly out of this curfed Place.
In a Word, they concluded all by my Advice,
that our Bufniefs'was to cruize for any thing
we could fee. Why then, faid I to them, our
firft Bufniefs is to fee, if the People upon this
llland have no Navigation, and what Boats they
ufe •, and if they have any better or bigger than
ours, let us take one of them. Firft indeed all
our Aim was to get, if poiTible, a Boat with a
Deck and a Sail ^ for then we might have faved
our Provifions, which otherwife we could not.
We had, to our great good Fortune, one Sailor
among us, who had been Afliftant to the Cook,
he told us, that he would find a Way how to
preferve our Beef, without Cask or Pickle ^ and
this he did effeftually by curing it in the Sun,
with the Help of Salt-Petre, of which there
was great Plenty in the ifland -, lb that before
we found any Method for qur Efcape, we had
dry'd the Flelh of fix or feven Cows and Bul-
locks, and ten or twelve Goats, and it relifhed fo
well, that we nevef gave our lelves the Trou-
ble to bail, it when we eat it, but either broiled
it, or eat it dry : But our main Difficulty about
frelh Water ftill remained ^ for we had no Vef-
fel to put any into, much lefs to keep any for
our going to Sea.
But our firft Voyage being only to coaft the
llland, we refolved to venture, whatever the
Hazard or Coniequence of it might be :;, and in
order to preferve as much frefli Water as we
D 4 could,
(4o)
could, our Carpenter made a Well thv^^art the
Middle of one of our Canoes, which he fepa-
rated from the other Parts of the Canoe, fo as to
make it tight to hold the Water, and cover'd
ib as we might flep updn it^ and this was fo
large, that it held near a Hogfliead of Water
very well.^ I cannot better defcribe this Well,
than by the liime Kind which the fmall Fifher-
Boats in England have to preferve their FiiK alive
in ^ only, that this, inftead of having Holes to
let the Salt Water in, was made found every
Way to keep It out \ and it was the firft Inven-
tion, I believe, of its Kind, for fuch an Uie :
But NeceiTity is a Spur to Ingenuity, and the
Mother of Invention.
It wanted but a little Confultatlon to Velblve
TiOw upon our Voyage. The firft Defign was only
to coaft it round the Ifland, as well to fee if we
could feize upon any Veffel fit to embark our felves
in, as alfo to take hold of any Opportunity which
might prefent for our palling over to the Main ^
and therefore our Refolution was to go on the
Infide, or Weft Shore of the Ifland, where at
leafl at one Point, the Land flretching a great
Way to the North-Wefl, the Diflance is not
extraordinary great from the IHand to the Coafl
of Afrkl.
Such a Voyage, and with fuch a defperate
Crew, I believe was never made •, for it is cer-
tain we took the worfl Side of the Ifiand to look
for any Shipping, efpecially for Shipping of other
jSIations, this being quite out of the Way : How-
ever, we put to Sea, after taking all our Provifi-
ons and Ammunition, Bag and Baggage on Board;
we had made both Mafl and Sail for our two
large Periagua's, and the other we paddl'd along
as
(4» )
as well as we could •, but when a Gale Iprung up,
we took her in Tow.
We fail'd merrily forward for feveral Days,
meeting with nothing to interrupt us. We faw
feveral of the Natives in fmall Canoes, catching
Fifh, and fometimes we endeavoured to come near
enough to fpeak with them, but they were al-
ways ihye, and afraid of us, making in for the
Shore, as loon as we attempted it \ till one of our
Company remember'd the Signal of Friendfliip
which the Natives made us from the South Part of
the Ifland, viz.. of fetting up a long Pole, and put
us in Mind, that perhaps it was the fame thing
to them as a Flag of Truce was to lis : So we
refblved to try it ^ and accordingly the next time
we faw any of their Fiiliing Boats at Sea, we put
up a Pole in our Canoe that had no Sail, and
rowed towards them. As foon as they faw tha
Pole, they ftaid for us, and as we came nearer,
paddfd towards us. When they came to us,
they {hewed themfelves very much pleafed, and
gave us fome large Fifh, of which we did not
know the Names, bnt they were very good. It
was our Mi^ortune flill, that we had nothing to
give them in Return-, but our Artift, of whom
I fpoke before, gave them two little thin Plates
of Silver, beaten, as I faid before, out of a Piece
of Eight ; they were cut in a Diamond Square,
longer one way than t'other, and a Hole punch'd
at one of the longeft Corners. This they were
fo fond of, that they made us flay till they had
caft their Lines and Nets again, and gave us as
many Fifh as we cared to have.
All th^'s while we had our Eyes upon their
Boats, view'd them very narrowly, and exami-
ned whether any of them were fit for our Turn ;
• but
( 4^ )
but they were poor forry things ; their Sail was
made of a large Matt, only one that was of a
Piece of Cotton Stuff, fit for little, and their
Rapes were twifted Flags, of no Strength ^ fo we
concluded we were better as we were, and let
them alone. We went forward to the North,
keeping the Coafl clofe on Board for twelve Days
togetlier^ and having the Wind at Eaft, and
E. S. E. we made very frefliWay. We faw no
Towns on the Shore, but often law fome Hutts
by the Water Side, upon the Rocks, and always
Abundance of People about them, who we could
perceive run together to flare at us.
It was as odd a Voyage as ever Men went :
We were a little Fleet of three Ships, and an
Armyofbetween Twenty 'and Thirty as dangerous
Fellows as ever they had among them *, and had
they known what we were they would have com-
pounded to give us every thing we defired, to
be rid of us.
On the other Hand, we were as miferable as
Kature could well make us to be *, for we were
upon a Voyage and no Voyage, we were bound
fome where and tio v/here •, for tho' we knew
what we intended to do, we did really not know
what we were doing : We went forward and for-
ward by a Northerly Courfe ; and as we advan-
ced, the Heat increafed, whicla began to be into-
lerable to us who were upon the Water, with-
out any Covering from Heat or Wet • befides
we were now in the Month of OBoberj or there-
abouts, in a Southern Latitude, and as we went eve-
ry Day nearer the Sun, the Sun came alfo eve-
ry Day nearer to us, till at laft we found our
felves in the Latitude of 20 Degrees, and having
paft theTropick about five or fix Days before that,^
in
r 4?)
in a few Days more the Sun would be in the
Zenith, juft over our Heads.
Upon thefe Confiderations we refolved to fesk
for a good Place to go on Shore again, and pitch
our Tents till the Heat of the Weather abated*
We had by this time meafured Half the Length
of the Ifland, and were come to that Part where
the Shore tending away to the North- Weft, pro-
mifed fair to make oiir PafTage over to the main
Land of Jlfricky much fhorter than we expefted.
But notwithftandhig that, we had good Realbn
to believe it was about 1 20 Leagues.
So, the Heats confider'd, we refolved to talce
Harbour ^ befides, our Proviiions were exhau-
fted, and we had not many Days Store left.
Accordingly, putting in for the Shore early in
the Morning, as we ufunlly did once in three
or four Days, for frefh Water, we fat down
and confidered, whether we Ihould go on, or take
up our Standing there :, but upon feveral Con-
fiderations too long to repeat here, we did not
like the Place, fo we refolved to go on lor a few
Days longer.
After Sailing on N. W. by N. with a frefh Gale
at S. E. about fix Days, we found 3ft a great Di-
ftance, a . large Promontory, or Cape of Land,
pufhing out a long Way into the Sea ^ and as
we were exceeding fond of feeing what was be-
yond the Cape, we refolved to double it bef(>re
we took into Harbour *, fb we kept on our Way,
the Gale continuing, and yet it was four Days
more before we reach'd the Cape. But it is
riot poilible to exprefs the Difcouragem.ent and
Melancholy that feized us all when we came
thither ; for when we made the Head Land
of the Cape, we were furprized to fee the Shore
fall
(4+;
fall away on the other Side, as much as it had
advanced oji tliis Side, and a great deal more ;
and that, in fhort, if we would adventure over
to the Shore of ^/r/c^', it mufl be from hence;
for that if we went further, the Breadth of the
Sea ftill increafed, and to what Breadth it might
increafe, we knew not.
While we mufed upon this Difcovery, we were
furprized with very bad Weather, and efpecially
violent Rains, with Thunder and Lightning moft
tinufually terrible to us. In this Pickle we run
for the Shore, and getting under the Lee of the
Cape, run our Frigates into a little Creek, where
we faw the Land overgrown with Trees, and
made all the Hafte poifible to get on Shore, be-
ing exceeding wet, and fatigued with the Heat,
the Thunder, Lightning and Rain.
Here we thought our Cafe was very deplora-
ble indeed, and therefore our Artift, of whom
1 have fpoken fo often, fet up a great Crofs of
Wood on the Hill, which was within a Mile of
the Head Land, with thefe Words, but in the
Tortuguefe Language,
To'int JDefperation, Jeftis have Mercy !
We fet to work immediately to build us ibme
Hutts, and fo get our Clothes dry'd, and tho' I
was young, and had no Skill in fuch Things,
yei-I ihalhiever forget the little City we built,
for it was no lefs-, and we fortify 'd it accordingly *,
and the Idea is fo freih in my Thought, that I can-
not but give a ihort Defcription of it.
Our Camp was on the South Side of a little
Creek on the Sea, and under the Shelter of a fteep
Hill, which lay, tho' on the other Side of the
Creek, yet within a Quarter of a Mile of us
J^. W- by In. and very happily intercepted the
Heat
( 45)
H^at of the Sun all the after Part of the Day.
The Spot we pitched on had a little frefli Water,
Brook, or a Stream running into the Creek by
us, and we faw Cattle feeding in the Plains and
and low Ground, Eaft and to the South of us a
great Way.
Here we fet up twelve little Hutts, like Sol-
diers Tents, Vut made of the Boughs of Trees
ftuck into the Ground, and bound together on
the Top with Withfes^ and fuch other things
as we could get -^ the Creek was our Defence on
the Korth, a little Brook on the Weft, and
the South and Eaft Sides we fortify 'd with a
Bank, which entirely covered our JButts; and
being drawn oblique from the Korth Weft to
the South Eaft , made our City a Triangle.
Behind the Bank, or Line, our Hutts ftood, ha-
ving three other Hutts behind them at a good
Diftance. In ore of thefe, which was a little one,
and ftood further off, we put our Gun-powder,
and nothing elfe, for fear of Danger; in the
other, which was bigger, we dreft our Visuals,
and put all our KeceiTaries -^ and in the third,
which was biggeft of all, we eat our Dinners,
called our Council's, and lat and diverted our
(elves with fuch Converfation as we had one
with another, which was but indifferent truly at
that time.
Our Gorrefpondence with the Natives was ab-
Iblutely neceifary, and our Artift, the Cutler,
having made Abundance of thofe little Diamond
cut Squares of Silver, with thele we made Shift
to Traffick with the black People for what we
wanted; for indeed they were pleafed wonder-
fully with them : And thus we go: Plenty of
Provifions. At iirft, and in particular, we got
about
(46)
about fifty Head of Black Cattel andGoats, and
our Cook's Mate took care to cure them, and dry
them, fait and preferve them for our grand
Supply ", nor was this hard to do, the Salt and
Salt-Petre being very good, and the Sun ^x-
ceilively hot^ and here we lived about four
Months.
TJie Southern Solftice was over, and the Sun
gone back towards the Et^mrjoHrialy when we con-
iidered of our next Adventure, which was to go
over the Sea of Zan^ucbar^ as the Tortuguefe
call it, and to land, if poiTible, upon the Conti-
neipt of ylfi-lca.
We talked with many of the Natives about
it, fuch as we could make our leives irltelligible
to-, but all that we could learn from them was,,
that there was a great Land of Lions beyond
the Sea, but that it was a great Way off j we
knew as well as they that it was a long Way , but
our People differed mightily about it : Some
laid it was 1 50 Leagues, others not above
100. One of our Men that had a Map of the
W^orld fhewed us by his Scale, that it was
not above 80 Leagues. Some laid there were
Iflands all the Way to touch at^ fome that there
were no Iflands at all : For my Part, I knew
nothing of this Matter one way or another, but
heard it all without Concern, whether it was
near or far. off ^ however, this we learned from
nn old Man who was blind, and led about by a
l;oy, that if we ftay'd till the End of Angufi^ we
jliouid befure of the Wind to be fair, and the
Sea fmooth all the Voyage.
This was fome Encouragement, but flaying
again was very unwelcome News to us, becaufe
that then the Sun would be returning again
/ M )
to the South, which was wh^t our Men were
very unwilling to. At laft we called a Council of
our whole Body^ their Debates were too tedi-
ous to take Notice of, only to note, that when it
came to Captain Boh^ (for lb they called me ever
fince 1 had taken State upon me before one of
their great Princes) truly I was on no Side,
it was not one Farthing Matter to me, I told
them, whether we went or flayed, I had no home^,
and all the World was alike to me^ Iblleft it
entirely to them to determine.
In a Word, they faw plainly there was nothing
to be done where we were^ without Shipping;
that if our Bufinefs indeed was only to eat and
<lrink, we could not find a better Place in the
World ^ but if our Bufmefs was to get away, and
get home into our own Country, we could not
find a Worie.
I confefs, 1 liked the Country wonderfully,
and even then had flrange Kotions of coming
again to live there*, andlufed to fay to them
very often, that if I had but a Ship of 20 Guns,
and a Sloop, and both well Manned, I would not
defire a better Place in the World to make my
felf as rich as a King.
But to return to the Confutations they were
in about going : Upon the whole, it Was refolved
to venture over for the Main-, and venture we
did, madly enough , indeed •, for it was the
wrong time of the Year to undertake fuch
a Voyage in that Country ^ for, as the Winds
hang Eafterly all the Months from September
to Marchy fo' they generally hang Weflerly all
the reft of the Year , and blew right in our
Teeth, fo that as foon as we had, with a kind
of a Land Breeze, ftretched over about 15 or 20
Leagues,
(4M
leagues, and, as I may lay, juft enough to lofe /
©ur lelves, we found the VVind ^t in a fteady
frefh Gale or Breeze from the Sea, at Weft
W. S. W. or S. W. by W. and never further
from the Weft ^ fb that, in a Word we could
make nothing of it.
On the other Hand, the VefTel, fuch as we had
would not lye dole upon a Wind ^ if fo, ive
might have ftretched away N. N. W. and have
met with a great many Iflands in our Way, as
we found afterwards :i but we could make no-
thing of it, tno' we tried, and by the trying had
almoft undone us alU for, ftretching away to
the North, as near the Wind as we could, we
had forgotten the Shape and Pofition of the iftand
of Madagafcar it felf ; how that we came off at
the Head of a Promontory or Point of Land
that lies about the Middle ot the Ifland, and
that ft retches out Weft a great way into the Sea ^
and that now being run a Matter of 40 Leagues
to the North, the Shore of the Ifland fell
off again above 200 Miles to the Eaft, fo that
"we were by this Time in the wide Ocean, be-
tween the Ifland and the Main, and almoft 1 00
Leagues from both.
Indeed as the Winds blew frefh at Weft, -as
before, we had a fmooth Sea, and we found it
pretty good going before it, and lb taking our
finalleft Canoe in Tow, we ftood in for the Shore
with all the Sail we could make. This was a
terrible Adventure •, for if the leaft Guft of Wind
had come, we had been all loft, our Canoes be-
ing deep, and in no Condition to make Way in a
high Sea.
This Voyage, however, held us eleven Days
in all, and at length having Ipeiit moft of our
Provi-
r 49 ;
Provifions, and every Drop of Water we hacf,-
\ve fpied Land, to our great Joy, tho' at the Dift-
ance of ten or eleven Leagues, and as under
the Land, the Wind came oif like a Land Breeze^-
and blew hard againft us, we were two Days
rnore before we reached the Shore, having
all that while exceflive hot Vv^eather, and not a
Drop of Water, or any other Liquor, except
fome Cordial Waters, which one of our Com-
pany had a little of left in a Cafe of Bottles.
Thfs gave us a Tafte of what we fhould have
done, if we had ventured forward with a fcant
Wind and uncertain Weather, and gavp us a
Surfeit of our Defign for the Main, at leaft 'till we
might have fome better VefTels under us ^ fo"
we went on Shore again, and pitched our Camp,
as before, in as convenient Manner as we could,
fortifying our felves againft any Surprize^ but
the Natives here were exceeding courteous, and
much civiller than on the South Part of the
Ifland-, and tho' we cOuld not underfland what
they faid, or they us, yet we found Means to
make them underftand that we were Sea-faring
Men, and Strangers ^ and t]fiat we \vere in Di-
ftrefs for want of Proviiions.
Th'e firft Proof we had of their Kindnefs wag,
that, as foon as they faw us come on Shore, and
begin to make our Habitation, one of their Cap-
tains or Kings, for we knew not what to call
them, came down with five or fix Men and fome
Women, and brought us G.ve Goats and two
young fat Steers, and gave them to us for no-
thing^ and when we went to offer them any
thing, the Captain, or the King, would not let
any of them touch it, or take any thing of us.
About two Hours after came another King c'r Cap-
E tair*
r 50 )
tain, with forty or fifty Men after him-, we
began to be afraid of him, and laid Hands upon
our Weapons-, but he perceiving it, caufed two
Men to go before him carrying two long Poles
Jii their Hands, which they held upright, as
higli as they could, which we prelently per-
ceiv'd was a Signal of Peace, and thefe two Poles
they let up afterwards flicking them up in the
Ground^ and when the King and his Men came
to thefe two Poles, they ffuck all tlieir Lances
i]p in the Ground, and came on unarmed, lea-
ving their Lances, as alfo their Bows and Arrows
behind them.
This" was to falisfy us, that they were come as
Fr'iends, and we were very glad to fee it ^ for
we had no Mind to quarrel with theiti, if we
could help it. The Captain of this Gang feeing
ibme of our Men making up their Hutts, and
th^t they did it but bungb'ngly, he becken'd
to fbme of his Men to go and heip us. Immedia-
tely 15 or 16 of them came and mingled a-
mong us, and went to Work for us; and, in-
deed, they were better W^orkmen than we were^
for they run up three or four Hutts for us
in -a Moment, and much handfomer done than
c^urs.
After this they fent us Milk, Plantanes, Pump-
kins, and Abundance of Roots and Greens that
tvfere'very good, and tlien took their Leave,
and would not ,thke any thing from us that we
had.. One of our Men offerM the King or Captain
of thefe Men a Dram, which he drank, and was
mightily pleafed with it, and held out Ms
Hand for another, which we gave him; a;n(i, in
a Word, after this, he hardly failed coming to
us two or thjree times a Week, alw ay s^ bringing
us-
(5^ )
US fbmething or other, and one time fent us
feven Head of Black Cattle, fome of which we
cured and dried as before.
And here I cannot but remember one thing^
which afterwards flood us in great ftead, viz.'
that the Fleih of their Goats and their Beef alfb,
but elpecially the former, when we had dried
and cured it, looked red, and eat hard and firm^
as dry'd Beef in Holland ^ they were fb pleafed
vvith it, and it was fuch a Dainty to them, that
at. any time after they would Trade with us
for it, not knowing, or fb much as imagining,
what it was ^ fb that for Ten or Twelve Pound
Weight of fmoked dry^d Beef^ they would
give us a whole Bullock, or Cow, or any thing
elfe we could defire.
Here we obferved two Things that were very
material to us, even efTentially fbj firfl, we
found they had a great deal of Ear then- Ware
here, which they make ufe of many ways, as
we did : Particularly they had long deep Earthen
Pots, which they ufed to fink into the Ground
to keep the Water which they drank cool and
fleafant^ and the other was, that they had lar-
ger Canoes than their Neighbours had*
By this we were prompted to enquire if they
had no larger VeiTels than thofewe faw there j
or if any other of the Inhabitants had not fucfe.
They fignified prefently, that they had no larger
Boats than that they ihewed us ^ but that on the
other Side of the Illand thay had larger Boats,
and that with Decks upon them, and large Sails *
and this made us refolve to Coafl round the
whole Illand to fee them-, fb we prepared and
yidualled our Canoe for the Voyage, and, in a
Word, went to Sea for the third time-
E X It
( ^o
It coft us H Month or fix Weeks time to per-*
form this Voyage, in which time we went on
Shore leveral times for Water and Provifions, and
found the Natives always very fre^ and cour-
teous •, but we were furprizedone Morning early,
being at the Extremity of the Northermoft Partof
the Ifland, when one of our Men cried out a Sail,
a Sail: We prefently lliw a Veifel a great Way
out at Sea •, but after we had looked at it with
Our Perfpe^l:ive GlafTes, and endeavoured all we
could to make out what it was, we could not
tell what to think of it^ for it was neither Ship,
Ketch, Gaily, Galliot, or like any thing that
we had ever fecn before : All that we could
make of it was, that it went from us landing
out to Sea. In a Word, we foon loft Sight of ir,
for we were in no Condition to chafe any thing,
and we never faw it again, but by all we could
perceive of it, from what we faw of fuch things
afterwards, it was fome Arabian Veffel which
had been trading to the Coaft of Mofamhlque^ or
^anguehar^ the fome Place where we afterwards
went, as you fhall hear.
I kept no Journal of this Voyage, nor indeed
did I all this while underftand any thing of Na-
vigation, more than the common Bufinefs of a
Fore-maft Man •, fo I can iliy nothing to the La-
titudes or Diftances of any Places we were at,
how long we were going, or how far we fl\iled
in a Day ; but this I remember, that being now
come round the liland, v/e failed up the Eaftern
Shore due South, as we had done down the We-
ftern Shore due North before.
Nor do I remember that the Natives differed
much from one another , either in Stature or
Complexion, or in their Manners, their Habits
their
( 5^ )
their Weapons, or indeed in any thu]g •, and yet
we could not perceive that they had any Intelli-
uence one with another ;, but they were extreme-
ly kind and civil to us on this Side, as well as
on the other.
We continued our Voyage South for many
Weeks, tho' with feveral Intervals of going on
Shore to get Provifions and Water. At length,
coming round a Point of Land which lay about
a League farther than ordinary in^o the Sea, we
were agreeably furprized with a ^ight, which,
no doubt, had been as difagreeable ^^ thofe con-
cerned, as it was pkafant to us. This was the
Wreck of an European Ship^ which had been caft
away upon the Rocks^ which in that Place run a
great Way into the Sea.
We could fee plainly at Low Water, a great
deal of the Ship lay dry *, even at High Water,
flie was not entirely covered *, and that at moft
ihe did not lye above a League from the Shore.
It will eafily be believ'd, that our Curiofity led
us, the Wind and Weather alfo permitting, to go
direftly to her, which we did without any Diffi-
culty, and prefently found that it was a Dutch-
built Ship, and that ihe could not have been very
long in that Condition, a great deal of the upper
Work of her Stem remaining firm , with the
Mizen Maft ftanding. Her Stern feem'd to be
jaum'd in between two Riiges of the Rock,
and fo remained faft, all the Fore-part of the Ship
having been beaten to Pieces.
We could fee nothing to be gotten out of
the Wreck that was worth our while*, but we
refolv'd to go on Shore, and ftay Ibmetime there-
abouts, to fee if perhaps we might get any Light
into the Story of her, and we were not without
E 3 Hopes
(54-)
Hopes that we might hear fomething more parti-»
cular about her Men, and perhaps find forae of
them on Shore there, in the fame Condition that
we were in, and fo might encreafe our Com-
pany.
It was a Very pleafant Sight to us, when co-
ming on Shore, we faw all the Marks and To-
kens of a Ship-Carpenter's Yard ^ as a Launch
Block and Craddles, Scaffolds and Planks, and
Pieces of Planks^ the Remains of the Building a
Ship or VciTel *, and, in a Word, a great many
things that fairly invited us to go about the
jfame Work, and we loon came to under ftand, that
the Men belonging to the Ship that was loft, had
daved themfelves on Shore, perhaps in their Boat,
and had built themfelves a Bark or Sloop, and fo
were gone to Sea again •, and enquiring of the
^Natives which Way they went, they pointed to
the South and South- Weft, by which we could
er.iily under ftand that they were gone away to thQ
Cafe of Good Hope,
No body will imagine \ye could be fo dull as not
to gather from hence, that we might take the
ilime Method for our Efcapes *, fo we refolved firft
in general, that we would try, if poiTible, to
build us a Boat of one Kind or other, and go
to Sea as our Fate Ihould dire^:.
In order to this, our firft Work was to have
the two Carpenters fearch about to fee what Ma-
terials the Dutchmen had left behind them that
anight be of Ufe ^ and in particular, they found
one that was very ufefiiL and which I was much em=*
pioy'd about, and that was a Pitch-Kettle, and a
little Pitch in it.
When v/e came to fet clofe to this Work, we
found it very laborious and difficult, having but
few
(5$;
few Tools, no Iron Work, no Cordage, no Sails ;
lb tliat, in fliort, whatever we built, we were
oblic;''d to be our own Smiths, Rope-Makers,
Sail-Makers, and indeed to pradife twenty Trades
that we knew little or nothing of: However, Ne-
ceility was the Spur to Invention, and we did ma-
ny things which before we thought impra£ticable,
that is to fay, in our Gircumftances.
After our two Carpenters had refblved upon
the Dimenfions of what they would build, tney
iet us all to Work, to go otf in our Boats, and
fplit up the Wreck of the old Ship, and to brin^
away every thing we could ^ and particularly,
that, if poflible, we fliould bring away the Mi-
zen Maft, which was left Handing, which with
much Difficulty we eflefted, after above twenty
Days Labour of fourteen of our Men.
At the fame time we got out a great deal of
Iron-Work', as Bolts, Spikes, Nails, &c. all which
our Artift, of whom I havefpoken already, who
was now grown a very dexterous Smith, made us
Kails and Hinges for our Rudder, and Spikes
fuch as we wanted.
feut we wanted an Anchor, and if we had had
an Anchor, we could not have made a Cable 5
fo we contented our felves with making Ibme
Ropes with the Help of the Natives, of fiich Stuff
as they made their Matts of, and with thele
we made fuch a kind of cable or Tom Lwe^ as
was fuificient to faften our VefTel to the Shore,
which we contented our felves with for ih^t
time. ,
To be fhort, we Ipent four Months here^ and j
work'd very hard too ; at the End of which
time we launch'd our Frigate, which, in a few f
Words, had many Defeats, but yet, all things
E 4 confir
( 56)
tor\(ideredj it was as well as we could expeft
it to be.
In fliort, it was a kind of a Sloop, of the
Burthen of near i8 or 20 Ton, and had we
had Mafts and Sails ^ {landing, and running Rig-
ging, i^.s is ufual in fuch Cales, and other Con*
veniences, the VefTel might have carry'd us
wherever we could have had a Mind to go ty but
pf all the Materials we wanted, this was the
worft, viz,* that we had no Tar or Pitch to pay the
Seams, and fecure the Bottom •, and tho' we did
what we could with Tallow and Oil, to make
a Mixture to fupply that Part, yet we could not
bring it to anfwer our End fully ^ and when
we launch'd her into the Water, flie was fo
leaky, and took in the Water fb fnft, that we
thought all our Labour had been loft, for we
had much ado to make her fwim *, and as for
Pumps, we had none^ nor had we any Means
to make one,
But at length one of the Natives, a black
' JSfe^ro'Tnarjy fliewed us a Tree, the Wood of which
being put into the Fire, lends forth a Liquid
that is as glutinous, and almoft as ftrong as Tar,
and of which, by boilhig, we made a Sort of
Stuff whlcl> ferv'4 us for Pitch, and this anfwe-
red our End effeftually •, for we perfedly made
our Vellel found and tight, fo that we wanted no
Pitch or Tar at all. This Secret has ftood me
in ftead upon many Occafions fmce that time,
in tlie fame Pl^ce.
Our VelTei being thus finiihed, out of the Mi-
zen Maft of the Ship, we made a very good
Maft to her, and fitted our Sails to it as well as
we could J then we made a Rudder and Tiller ^
<nd, in a Word, every thing that our prefent
NecelTi-
( 57 )
Iseceflity called upon us for •, and having vi£hi-
alled her, and put as much freih Water on Board
as we thought we wanted, or as we knew ho\^
to ftow (for we were yet without Casks) we put
to Sea with a fair Wind.
We had fpent near another Year in thefe
Rambles, and in this Piece of Work ; for it was
now, as our Men faid, about the Beginning of
our February y and the Sun went from us apace,
which was much to our Satisfa8:ion, for the
Heats were exceeding violent. The Wind, a$
I faid, was fair, for as I have fince learnt, the
Winds generally fpring up to the Eaftward, as
the Sun goes from them to the North.
Our Debate now was, which Way we ihould
go, and never were Men fo irrelblute -, Ibme were
for going to the Eaft, and ftretching away dire-
£l:ly for the Coaft of Malabar *, but others who
conildered more ferioufly the Length of that Voy-
age, fhook their Heads at the Propolal, knowing
very well, that neither our Provifions, elpecially
of Water*, or our Veifel, were equal to fuch a
Run as that is , of near 2000 Miles, without
any Land to touch at in the Way.
Thele Men too had all along had a great
Mind to a Voyage for the main Land of AfricJt^
where they faid we ihould have a fair Caft for
our Lives, and might be fure to make our lelves
rich which Way Ibever we went, if we were but
able" /) make our Way through, whether by Sea
or by Land.
Befides, as the Cafe flood with us, we had
not much Choice for our Way, for if we had
reiblv'd fjr the Eaft, we were at the wrong Sea-
fon of the Year, and muft have ftaid tiWAfrll or
May before we had gone to Sea. At length, as
we
(58;
we had the Wind at S. E. and E. S. E. and fine
promifing Weather, we came all into the firfl
Propofal, and retblved for the Coaft of Africa^
nor were we long in difputing as to our Coaft-
ing the IfLind , which we were upon ^ for we
were now on the wrong Side of the Ifland for
th& Voyage we intended^ So we ftood away to
the North, and having rounded the Cape, we
hall'd away Southward under the Lee of the
Ifland, thinking to reach the Weft Point of Land,
which, as I obferved before, runs out fo far
towards the Coaft of Africa^ as would have ihor-
ten'd our Run almoft too Leagues. But when
we had failed about thirty Leagues, we found
the Winds variable under the Shore, and right
againft us*, ^o we concluded to ftand over di-
reftly, for then we had the Wind fair, and our
VefTel was but very ill fitted to lye near the
Wind, or any Way indeed but juft afore it.
Having refolv'd upon it therefore, we put
in • to the Shore, to furnifli our felves again
%vith frefh Water and other Provifions, and about
the latter End of March, with more Courage than~
Bifcretion, more Refolution than ladgment, we
launched for the main Coaft of Africa.
As for me, I had no Anxieties about it% fo that
we had but a View of reaching fome Land or
Other, I cared not what or where it was to be,
having at this time no Views of what was before
Tne, nor much Thought of what might, or m.ight
notbefalme-, but with as little Confederation as
z\vf one can be fuppofed to have at my Age, !
ronfented to every thing that was propoied,
however hazardous the thing k felf, h^^em
improbable the Succefs,
Tiie
( 59)
The Voyage, as it was undertaken with a great
deal of Ignorance and Defperatioji, fo really it
was not carry'd on with much Refolution or
Judgment *, for we knew no more of the Courfe
we were to fteer , than this, that it was any
where about the Weft, within two or three
Points N. or S. and as we had no Compafs with
us, but a little Brafs Pocket Compafs, which one
of our Men had more by Accident than other-
wife , 15 we could not be very exa£t in our
Courfe.
However, as it pleafed God that the Wind
continued fair at S. E. and by E. we found that
K. W. by W. which was right afore it, was its
good a Courfe for us as any we could go, and
thus we went on.
The Voyage was much longer than we expe-
lled *, our Velfel alio, which had no Sail that
was proportion'd to her, made but very little
Way in the Sea, and faiPd heavily. We had
indeed no great Adventures happened in this
Voyage, being out of the Way of every thing
that could offer to divert us^ and as for feeing
any VeiTel, we had not the leaft Occafion to hail
any thing in all the Voyage *, for we faw not
one Velfel fmall or great, the Sea we were upon
being entirely out of the way of all Commerce ^
for the People of Madagafcar knew no more of
the Shores of u4frica than we did, only that
there was a Country of Lions, as they call ?>,
that Way.
We had been eight or nine Days under Sail,
with a fair Wind, when, to our great Joy one
of our Men cry'd out. Land, We had great
Reafon to be glad of the Difcovery • for we had
not Water enough left for above two or three
Days
( 6o )
Days more, tho' at a fliort Allowance. Ho\^^-
ver, tho' it was early in the Moniing when we
dilcoverM it, v^^e made it near Kight before we
reach'd it, the Wind flackening almoft to a Calm,
and our Ship being, as I faid, a very dull Sailer.
We were fadly baulk'd upon our coming to the
Land, when we found, that inftead of the main
Land of Afrkly it was only a little Ifland, witli
no Inhabitants upon it, at leaft, none that we
could find *, nor any Cattel, except a few Goats,
of which we killed three only. However, they
lerved us for frefh Meat, and we found very
good Watery and it was fifteen Days more be-
fore we reach'd the Main, which, however, at
laft we arrived at \ and which was moft eilen-
tial to us, we came to it jufl: as all our Provi-
fions were fpent. Indeed we may fay they were
fpent firft •, for we had but a Pint of Water a
Day to each Man for the laft two Days. But-
to our great joy, we law the Land, tho"* at a great
Diftance, the Evening before, and by a pleafant
Gale in the l^ight, were, by Morning, within
two Leagues of the Shore.
We never fcrupled going aihore at the firft
place we came at , tho' had we had Patience,
we might have found a very fijie River a little
far ther^ North. Kov/ever, we kept our Frigate
on Float by the Help erf two gre^^.t Poles which
we faften'd into the Ground to Aiore her, like
Piles-, and the little v/eak P.opes, which, as I faid,
we had made of Matting, lerved us well enough
to make the Veffel iaft.
As foon as we had viewed the Coimtry a little,
got frelhWater, andfurniftiedour felveswithfome
Visuals, which we found very fcarce here, we
^NQXlt onboard again with our Stores. All we got for
Provi-
( 6i )
Provifion, was Ibme Fowls that vve killed, and a
kind of wild Bulfloe, or Bull, very Imall, but good
Meat: I fay, having got thefe things on Board,
we refoived to fail on along the Coaft, which lay-
away N. N. E. till we found fome Creek or River
that we might run up into the Country, or fome
Town or People ^ for we had Reafon enough to
know the Place was inhabited, becaufe we feve-
ral times faw Fires in the Night, and Smoke in
the Day, every way at a Diftance from us.
At length we came to a very large Bay, and in
it fever af little Creeks or Rivers emptying them-
felves into the Sea, and we run boldly into the
firft Creek we came at ^ where feeing fome Hutts
and wild People about them, on the Shore, we run
ourVeffel into a little Cove on the North Side
(^ the Creek, and held up a long Pole with a
white Bit of Cloath on it, for a Signal of Peace
to them. We found they underftood us pre-
lently, for they came flocking to us both Men,
Women, and Children, moft of them of both
Sexes ftark naked. At firft they ftood wondering
and ftaring at us, as if we had been Monfters,
and as if they had been frighted •, but we found
they inclined to be familiar with us afterwards.
The firft thing we did to try them, was, we
held up our Hands to our Mouths, as if we were
to drink, fignifying that we wanted Water. This
they underftood prefently, and three of their
Women and two Boys ran away up the Land, and
came back in about Half a Quarter of an Hour,
with feveral Pots made of Earth pretty enough,
and bak'd, I fuppofe, in the Sun , thefe they
brought us full of Water, and fet them down
near the Sea-fhore, and there left them, go-
ing
(60
mg^ back a little, that we might fetch thenf^
which we did.
Sometime after this, they brought us Roots
nnd Herbs, and fome Fruits which I cannot re-
aiiember, and gave us ; but as we had nothing to
give then?, we found them not fo free as the
People in Madaj^afcar were, flowever, our Cut-*
ler went to Work, and as he had faved fome Iron
Out of the Wreck of the Ship, he made Abun-
dance of Toys, Birds, Dogs, Pins, Hooks, and
Rings, and we helped to file them, and make
them bright for him :, and when we gave them
tome of thefe, they broughrus all the Sorts of
Frovifions they had, fuch as Goats, Hogs, and
Gows, and we got Viftuals enough.
We were now landed upon the Continent of
'Afrka^ the moft defolate, defart, and unhofpita*
ble Country in the World, even Greenland and
iSIova ZemhU it felf not excepted; with this
Difference only, that even the worfi: Part of it
we found inhabited \ tho' taking the Nature and
Quality of fome of the Inhabitants, it might
have been m.uch better to us if there had been
none.
And, to add to the Exclamation I am making
on the Nature of the Place, it was here, that we
took one pf the raflie^fl and wildeft, and moft
defperate Refolution? that ever was taken by
Man, or any Number of Men, in the World-,
this was, to travel over Land through the Heart
of the Coimtry, from the Coaft of Moz^ambique^
on the Eaft-Ocean to the Coaft of Angola or Gid^
neay on the Weftern or JtlanticJi Ocean, a Con-
tinent of Land of at leafl: iBoo Miles:, in which
Journey we had exceilive Heats to fupport, un-
paiTable Defarts to go over^ no Carriages, Camels
or Beafts of any kind to carry our Baggage,
innumerable Numbers of wild and ravenous
Beafts to encounter with, fuch as Lions, Leo-
pards, Tigers, Lizards, and Elephants ^ we had
the Equinoftial Line to pafs under, and confe-
quently were in the very Center of the Tor-
rid Zone^ we had Nations of Savages to en-
counter with, barbarous and brutiih to the laft
Degree, Hunger and Thirft to ftruggle with^
and, xu one \Vord, Terrors enough to have
daunted the ftouteft Hearts that ever were placed
inCafesofFlefhand Blood.
Yet, fearlefs of ^W thefe, we relblved to ad-
venture, and accordingly made fuch Preparation
for our Journey, as the Place we were in
would allow us, and fuch as our little Experience
of the Country feem'd to didate to us.
It had been fome time already that we had
been ufed to tread bare-footed upon the RockSj,
the Gravel, the Grafs and the Sand on th^ Shore;
but as we found the v^rorft: thing for our Feet
was, the walking or travelling on the dry burn-
ing Sands, within the Country^ fb we provided
our felves with a Ibrt of Shoes made of the Skins
of Wild Beafts, with the Hair inward, and being
dryed in the Sun, the Out-fide were thick and
hard, and would laft a great while. In ihort^
as I called them, lb I think the Term very pro-
per ftill, we made us Gloves for our Feet,
and we found tliem very convenient and very
comfortable.
We converfed with fome of the Natives of
the Country who were friendly enough. What
Tongue they fpoke, 1 do not yet pretend to
know. We talked as far as we could make them
under ftand us, net only about our Provifions,
but
( H )
hilt alfo about our Undertaking •, and ask'd then*
what Country lay that Way, pointing Weft with
our Hands. They told us' but little to our Pur-
pole, only we thought by all their Dilcourie, that
there were People to be found of one Sort or
other ev^ery where ; that there were many great
Rivers, many Lions and Tygers, Elephants, and
furious wild Cats (which in the End we found ta
he Civet Cats) and the like.
When we ask'd them, if any One had ever tra-
x'elled that Way, they told us Yes, fbme had
gone to where the Sun fleeps, meaning to the
Weft \ but they could not tell us who they were.
When \^e ask'd for Ibme to guide us, they fhrunk'
lip their Shoulders as Frenchmen do when they are
afraid to undertake a thing. When we ask'd
them about the Lions and wild Creatures they
iaught, and let us know they would do us no
Hurt, and directed us to a good way indeed to'
deal with them, and that was to make fbme Fire,
which would always fright them away, and for'
indeed we found it.
Upon thefe Encouragements we refolved upon
our Journey, and many Confiderations put us
upon it, which, had the thing it felf been pra-
^icable, we were not fb much to blame fbr^
as it miG:ht otherwife be fuppofed ^ I'll name fbme
of them, not to make the Account too tedious.
Firft, We were perfectly deftitute of Mean??
to wark about our own Deliverance any
Other wav \ we were on fliore in a Place perfect- '
ly remiKe from all European Kavigation •, io that
we could never think of being relieved, and
fetchM oil by any of our own Country-men in
that Part of the World. Secondly, If we had
adventured tahave failed on along the Coaft of
( 65 ;
MoT^amhie^ue^ and the defolate Shores of Jfricd tO
the North, till we came to the Red Sea, all we
could hope for there^ was to be taken by the
jirahs^ and be fold for Slaves to the 'Turks ^ which
to all of us was little better than Death. We
could not build any thing of a Veifel that
would carry us over the great Ardblm Sea
to hdtaj nor could we reach the Cape de Bona
Sferdnz,ay the Winds being too variable, and the
Sea in that Latitude too tempeftuous ^ but we all
knew, if we could crofs this Continent of Land,
we might reach fome of the great Rivers that
run into the Atlantick Ocean, and that Oxi the
Banks of any of thofe Rivers we might
there build us Canoes which would carry us
down, if it were Thoufands of Miles ^ fo that
we could want nothing but Food, of which we
were affured we might kill fufFicient with our
Guns : And, to add to the Satisfiftion of our
Deliverance, we concluded we might every one
of us get a Quantity of Gold, which, if we came
lafe, would infinitely recompence us for our Toil.
I cannot fay, that in all our Confultations I
ever began to enter into the Weight and Merit
of any Enterprize we went upon till now. My
View before was, as I thought, very good, viz.*
that we ihould get into the Arabian Gulph,
or the Mouth of the Red Sea, and waiting tor
Ibme VefTel paffing, or repaifing there, of v/hich
there is Plenty, have leized upon the .firfir
we came at, by Force, and not only have
enriched our felves with her Cargo, but have
carried our lelves to what Part of the World we
had ple.ifed: But when they came to talk to
me of a March of 2 or 3000 Miles on Foot, of
Wandering in DefartSj among Liens and Tygers,
F Icon-
(66)
I confefs my Blood run chill, and I u(ed all the
Arguments I could to periwade them aga'nft it.
But they were all pofitive, and 1 might as
well have held my Tongue^ fo I fubmitted, and
told them, I would keep to our ftril Law, to be
governed by the Majority, and we refolved upon
our Journey. The firfi thing we did, was to
take an Obfervation, and fee whereabouts in
the World we were, which we did, and found
we were in the Latitude of 12 Degrees, 35
Minutes South of the Line. The next thing was
to look on the Charts, and fee the Coaft of
the Country we aimed at, which we found to
be from 8 to 11 Degrees South Latitude,
if we went for the Coaft of Angola^ or in 1 2
to 19 Degrees North Latitude, if we made for
the River Nlger^ and the Coaft of G^iney,
Our Aim was for the Coaft of AngoUy which
by the Charts we had, lying very near the lame
Latitude we were then in, our Courfe thither
was due Weft ^ and as we were afTured we
ihould meet with Rivers, we doubted not, but
that by their Help we might eafe our Journey,
efpecially if we could find Means to crofs the
great Lake, or Inland Sea, which the Natives
call Coalmucoay out of which it is faid the River
Nile has its Source or Beginning -^ but we reck-
oned without our Hoft, as you will fee in the
Sequel of our Story.
The next thing we had to confider was, how
to carry our Baggage, which we were firft of all
determined not to travel without ^ neither indeed
was it poffible for us to do fo, for even our Am-
munition which was abfolutely neceifary to us,
and on which our Subfiftence, I mean for iFood, as
well as our Safety, iaid particularly our Defence
againft
againlt wild Beads, and wild Men depended: I fay,
even our Ammunition was a Load too heavy for
us to carry in a Country where the Heai; were
fuch, that we fhould be Load enough for our felves.
We enquired in the Country, and found there
was no Beaft of Buithen known among them^
that is to fay, neither riorfes or Mules or Affes,
Camels or Dromedaries*, the only Creature they
had, was a kind of BulHoe, or tame Bull, fuch a
one as we had killed-, and that (bme of thefethey
had brought Co tp their Hand, that they taught
them to go and come with their Voices, as they
called them to them, or fent them from them ;
that they made them carry Burdiens, and parti-
cularly, that they would fw'm over Rivers
and Lakes upon them, the Creatures fwimming
very high and ftrong in the Water.
But we underftood nothing of the Manage-
ment or Guiding fuch a Creature, or how to bind
a Burthen upon them^ and this laft Part ot
our Confultation puzzled us extremely : At laft
I propofed a Method for them, which after
fbme Confideration, they found very conveni-
ent^ and this was to quarrel with fbme of the
Kegro Natives, take ten or twelve of them
Frifoners, and binding them as Slaves, caufe
them to travel with us, and make them car-
ry our Baggage ^ which I alledged would be
convenient and ufeful many ways, as well to
ihew us the Way, as to converfe with other
Natives for us.
This Counfel was not accepted at firft, but
the Natives foon gave them Keafbn to approve
it^ and alfb gave them an Opportunity to put
it in Practice ^ for as our little Traffick with
the Natives was hitherto upon the Faith of
their firfl Kindnefs, we found fbme Knav^ery
F 2 among
. f 68)
among them at laft^ for having bought fome
Cattel of them for our Toys, which, as I faid,
our Cutler had contrived, one of our Men
diifering with his Chapman, truly they hutPd
him in their Manner, and keeping the things
he had oliered them for the Cattel, made their
Fellows drive away che Cattel before his
Face, and laugh at him *, our Man crying out
loud of this Violence, and calling to fome of us,
who were not far off, the Kegro he was dealing
with threw a Lance at him, which came fo
true, that if he had not with great Agility
jumped afidc, and held up his Hand alio to
turn the Lance as it came, it had ftruck through
his Body, and, as it was, it wounded him in
the Arm \ at which the Man enraged took up
his Fuzee, and ihot the Negro through the
Heart.
The others that were near him, and all thole
that were with us at a Diftance, were fo ter-
ribly frighted; firft, at the Flaih of Fire; ie-
condly, at the Noife : And thirdly, at fee-
ing their Countryman killed, that they ftood
like Men ftupid and amazed, at firft, for Ibme
time: But after they were a little recovered
from their Fright, one of them, at a good Di-
fiance fl'om us,"fet up a fudden fcreaming Noife,
which, it feems, is the Noife they make when
they go to Fight ; and all the reft underftanding
what^he meant, anfwered him, and run to-
iiether to the Place where he was, and we not
Knowing what it meant, ftood ftill looking upon
cne another like a Parcel of Fools.
But we were prefently undeceived, for in
two or three Minutes more we heard the fcream-
ing roaring Koife go on from one Place to a-
nother, through ail their little Towns; nay.
even
ih)
even over the Creek to the other Side; and, on
a fudderi we faw a naked Multitude running
from all Parts to the Place where the firft Man
began it, as to a Rendezvous*, and, in le(s than
an Hour, I believe there was near 500 of them
gotten together, armed fome with Bows and
Arrows, but moft with Lances, with which they
throw, at a good Diftance, ib nicely, that they
will Itrike a Bird flying.
We had but a very little time for Confultation,
for the Multitude was encreafing every Mo-
ment; and I verily believe, if we had ftay'd long,
they would have been loooo together in a h't-
tle time. We had nothing to do therefore, but
to fly to our Ship or Bark, where indeed we
could have defended our felves very well, or
to advance and try what a Volley or two of
Imall Shot would do for us.
We refblved immediately upon the latter, de-
pending upon it, that the tire and Terror of
our Shot would foon put them to Flight ; lb
we drew up all in a Line, and marched boldly
up to them ; they flood ready to meet us, de-
pending, I fuppofe, to defl:roy us all with ^heir
Lances; but before we came near enongh for
them to throw their Lances, we halted, and (land-
ing at a good Diflance from one another, to
flretch our Line as far as we could, we gave
them a Salute with our Shot, which befides wnat
we wounded that we knew not ofj knocked
lixteen of them down upon the Spot, and
three more were fo lamed, that they fell about
20 or 50 Yards from them.
As foon as we had £red, they fet up the hor-
ridefl Yell, or Howling, partly raif^d by thole
that were wounded, and partly by thole that
F 3 ? ti.
( 7o)
pitied and condoled the Bodies they faw lye
dead, that 1 never heard any thing like it be-
fore or fnice.
We ftood Stock flill after we had fired, to
load our Guns again, and finding they did not
ftir from the Place, we fired among them again;
we killed about nine of them at the fecond Fire;
but as they did not ftand fo thick as before, all
our Men did not fire, leven of us being or-
dered to refer ve our Charge, and to advance as
ibon as the other had fired, wjiile the reft loaded
again :, of which I iliall fpeak again prefently.
As foon as we had fired the fecond Volley we
fliouted as loud as we could, and the leven Men
advanced upon them, and, coming about 20 Yards
nearer, fired again, and thofe that were behind
having loaded again, with all Expedition, fol-
lowed but when they faw us advance, they run
fcreaming away as if they were bewitched.
When we came up to the Field of Battle, we
faw a great Number of Bodies lying upon the
Ground, many more than we could fuppole were
killed or wounded, nay more than we had Bul-
lets in our Pieces when we fired; and we could
not tell what to make of it; but at length, we
found how it was viz.- that they were frighted
out of all manner of Senfe; nay, I do believe fe-
veral of thofe that were really dead, were frighted
to Death, and had no Wound about them.
Of thofe that were thus frighted, as I have faid,
ieveral of them, as they recovered themfelves,
came and wcrihipped us (taking us for Gods
or Devils, I know not which, nor did it much
matter to us) Ibme kneeling, fbme throwing
them ie Ives flat on the Ground, made a Thoufand
antick Geftures, but all wl^h TokejiS of the moft
pro-
( 70
profound SubmliTion. It prefentl^ came into my
Head, that we might now by th? Law of Arms
take as many Prifoners as we would, and make
them travel with us, and carry oui; Baggage:
As foon as I propofed it, our Men were all of my
Mind-, and accordingly we fecured about do lufty
young Fellows, and let them know they muft
go with us*, which they feemedvery willing to
do: But the next Queftion we had among our
lelves, was, how we ftiould do to truft thern, for
we found the People not like thofe of Mada^^far,
but fierce, revengful and treacherous, for which
Reafon we were fure, that we fhould have no
Service from them but that of meer Slaves, no
Subjection that would continue any longer than
theFear of us was upon them, nor any Labour
but by Violence.
Before I go any farther, I muft hint to the
Reader, that from this time forward I began to
enter a little more feriouily into the Circum-
ftance I was in, and concern'd my felf morein
the Conduft of our Affairs-, for, tho' my Com.e-
rades were all older Men, yet I began to find them
void of Counfel, or, as 1 now call it, Prefence of
Mind, when, they came to the Execution of a
thing. The firft Occafion I took to obferve tliis,
was in their late Engagement with the Natives,
when, tho' they had taken a good Refolution to
attack them, and fire upon them, yet when
they had fired the firft time, and found that the
Negroes did not run as they expeOred, their
Hearts began to fail, and I am perfwaded if their
Bark had been near Hand, they would every
Man have run away.
Upon this Occafion, I began to take upon
me a little to hearten them up, and to call upon
^ 4 them
, ( 70
them to lond ac;nin, nnd iiivc them another Volley,
telHnc!; them that I woiildenai<Te, if thev would be
ruled by me, Vd make the Negroes run faft enough.
I found this heartned them, and therefore, when
they fired a fecond time, I defired them to re-
serve fome of their Shot to an Attempt by it
felf, as I mentioned above.
Having fired a fecond time, I was indeed for-
ced to com.mand, as I may call it. Now, Seigniors ,
fiid I, let us give them a Chear ; fo I open'd my
Throat, and ihouted three times, as our EngUjlj
Sailors do on like Occafions^ and now follow me,
faidi to the feven that had not fired, nnd fli warrant
you we will mah Wcrk with them \ and fb it proved
indeed: For as loon as they faw us coming, away
they run as above.
From this Day forward they would call me no-
thing but Seignior Capitamo ^ but I told them, {
would not be called Seignior. Well then, laid
the Gunner, who fpoke good Englijl^ you Ihall
be called Captain Bohy and ib they gave me my
Title ever after.
Nothing is more certain of the Tortuguefe than
this , take them nationally or perlbnaily •, if
they are animated and hearten'd up by any body
to go before, and encourage them by Example,
they will behave well enough ^ but if they have
nothing but their own Meafures to follow, they
fink immediately : Thefe Men ' had certainly
fled from a Parcel of naked Savages, tho' even
by fiying they could not have faved their Lives,
if I had not iliouted and halloo'd^ and made ra-
ther Sport with the thing, than a Fight, to keep
pp their Courage.
Nor was there lefs need of it upon leveral
Occaiipns herj^after ^ and 1 do confefs, 1 have of-
ten
(7a)
ten wonderM liow a Number of Men, who, whei;i
they came to the Extremity, were fo ill fuppor-
ted by their own Spirits, had at firft Courage
to propofe, and to undertake the moft defperate
and impradicable Attempt that ever Men went
ftbout in the World.
There were indeed two or three indefatig'^ble
Men among them, by whofe Courage and Indu-
ftry all the reft were upheld •, and indeed thole
two or three were the Managers of them from the
Beginning *, that was the Gunner, and that Cutler
whorril call the Artift^ and the third, who was
pretty well, tho' not like either of them, was one
of the Carpenters. Thefe indeed were the Life
and Soul of all the reft, and it was to their Cou-
rage that all the reft ow'd the Refolution they
ftiewd upon any Occafion. But when thofe faw
me take a little upon me, as above^ . they em-
braced me, and treated me with particular Af-
fection ever after.
This Gunner was an excellent Mathematici-
an, a good Scholar, and a compleat Sailor ^ and
it was in converiing intimately with him, that
I learnt afterwards the Grounds of what Know-
ledge I have fince had in all the Sciences ufeful
for Navigation, and particularly in the Geogra- |
phical Part of Knowledge. j
Even in our Converfation, finding me eager
to underftand and learn, he laid the Foundation of
a general Knowledge of things in my Mind, gave
me juft Ideas of the Form of the Earth and of
the Sea, the Situation of Countries, the Courle
of Rivers, the Do£brine of the Spheres, the Mo- ,
tion of the Stars ; and, in a Word, taught me a )
kind of Syftem of Aftronomy, which I after- /
wards improved.
In
(l^)
In efpccial Manner, he filled my Head with
afpiring Thoughts, and with an earneft Defire
after learning; every thing that could be taught
me *, convincing me, that nothing could qualify
me for great Undertakings, but a Degree of
Learning fuperior to what was ufual in the Race
of Seamen ; he told me, that to he ignorant, was
to be certain of a mean Station in the World, but
that Knowledge was the fir ft Step to Preferment.
He was always flattering me with my Capaci-
ty to Learn*, and tho' that fed my Pride, yet
on the other Hand, as 1 had a fecret Ambition
which juft at that time fed it felf in my Mind,
it prompted in me an infatiable Thirift after
Learning in general, and I refblved, if ever I
came back to Europe, and had any thing left to
purchafe it, I would make my felf Mafter of all
the Parts of Learning needfiil to the making of
me a compleat Sailor •, but 1 was not fo juft to my
felf afterwards, as to do it when I had an Op-
portunity.
But to return to our Bufmefs • the Gunner,
when he faw the Service I had done in the Fight,
and heard my Propofal for keeping a Number
of Prifoners for our March, and for carrying
our Baggage, turns to me before them all, Cap-
tain JBoby fays he, I think you muft be our Lea-
der, for all the Succefs of this Enterprize is
owing to you. Noy no, [aid /, do not compliment
me, you jhall be our Seignior Capitamo, you fhall ^
be. General, I am too young for it *, fo in ihort, (
we all agreed he ftiould be our Leader • but he
would not accept of it alone, but would have
me join'd with him, and all the reft agreeing, I
was oblig'd to comply.
The
r75)
The firft Piece of Service they put me up-
on in this new Command, was as difficult as
any they could think of, and that was to ma-
nage the Prifoners •, which however 1 chearfully
undertook, as you ihall hear prefently : But the
immediate Confultation was yet of more Confe-
quence •, and that was, Flrffy Which Way we
ihould go, :ind Secondly, How to furnilh our felves
lor the Voyage with Provifions.
There was among the Prifoners one tall, well-
fhapM, handfom Fellow, to whom the reft feem'd
to pay great RefpeO:, and who, as we underftood
afcerwards, was the Son of one their Kings, his
Father was, it feems, killed at our firft Volley,
and he wounded with a Shot in his Arm, and
with another juft on one of his Hips or Haun-
ches. The Shot in his Haunch being in a Aeihy
Part, bled much , and he was half dead with
the Lofs of Blood. As to the Shot in his Atm,
it had broke his Wrift , and he was by both
thefe Wounds quite difabled, fo that we were once
going to turn him away, and let him die •, and
if we had, he would have died indeed in a few
Days more : But as 1 fouud the Man had fbme
Refpe£t ihewM him, it prefently occurred to my
Thoughts, that we might bring htm to be ufeful
to us, and perhaps make him a kind of Com-
mander over them. So I caufed our Surgeon to
^ake him in Hand, and gave the poor Wretch
good Words, that is to fay, I fpoke to him as well
as I could by Signs, to make him underftand that
we would make him well again.
This created a new Awe in their Minds of us,
believing that as we could kill at a Diftance by
fomething invifible to them (for fo our Shot was
to be fure) lb we could make them v/ell again
too.
(76;
too. upon this the young Prince (for lb we
called him afterwards) called fix or feven of the
Savages to him , and faid fomething to them ;
what it was we knew not, but immediately
all the feven came to me, and kneel'd down
to me, holding up their Hands, and making
Signs of Entreaty, pointing to the Place where
one of thoie lay whom we had killed.
It was a long time before I or any of us could
underftand them *, but one of them fun and lifted
up a dead Man, pointing to his Wound, which
xvas in his Eye, tor he was fhot into the Head at
one of his Eyes. Then another pointed to the
Surgeon, and at laft we found it out, that the
Meaning was, that he ihould heal the Prince's
Father too, who was dead, being ihot thro' the
Head, as above.
We prelently took the Hint, and would not
fay we could not do it, but let them know, the
Men that were kill'd were thofe that had firft
fallen upon us, and provoked us, and we would by
no Means make them alive again •, and that if any
other did fOy we would kill them too, and never
let them live any more : But that if he (the Prince)
would be willing to go with us, and do as we»
ihould direct him, we would not let him dye, and
would make his Arm well. Upon this he bid his
Men go and fetch a long Stick or Staff, and lay
on the Ground. When they brought it, we faw
it was an Arrow *, he took it with his left Hand,
(for his other was lame with the Wound) and
point^'ng up at the Sun, broke the Arrow in two,
and fet the Point againft his Breaft, and then
gav,e it to me. This was as I underftood after-
wards, wifliing the Sun, whom they worihip,
might ihoot him into the Breaft with an Arrow,
if
(77)
if ever he failed to be my Friend *, and giving
the Point of the Arrow to me, was to be a Tefti-
mony, that I was the Man he had fworn to; and
never was Chriftian more pundual to an Oath,/'
than he was to this, for he was a fworn Servant ;
to us for many a weary Month after that.
When I brought him to the Surgeon, he im-
mediately drefs'd the Wound in his Haunch or
Bottock, and found the Bullet had only graz'd
upon the Fleih,- and pafs'd, as it were, by It,
but it was not lodg'd in the Part •, fo that it was
loon healed and well again : But as to his A rm,
he found one of the Bones broken, which are in
the Fore-part from the Wrift to the Elbow ^ and
this he fet, and fplinter'd it up, and bound his
Arm in a Sling, hanging it about his Neck, and
m.aking Signs to him that he foould not ftir it ;
which he was fo ftrid an Obferver of, that he fet
him down, and never m.ov'd one W^ay or other,
but as the Surgeon gave him. Leave.
I took a great deal of Pains to acquaint this
Negroe what we intended to do, and what Uie
we intended to make of his Men ^ and particu-
larly, to teach him the Meaning of what we %id:
Efpecially to teach him Ibme '"'^nrds, fuch a.sTf*
and Noy and what they meant, and to innure him
to our Way of Talking, and he was very willing
and apt to learn any thing I taugh*- him.
It was eafy to let him fee, that we -intended
to carry our Provifion with us ^rom the firft Day;
but he made Signs to us to tell us we need not,
for that we fhould find Prov^'f ons enou!?;h every
where for fourty Days. It was very difficult for
us to underftand how he exprefs'd Forty *, for he
knew no Figures, but fbme Words they uled to
one another that they underftood it by. At laft,
one
(78)
one of the Negroes', by his Order, laid fourty
little Stones one by another, to {\\e\v us how
many Days we ihould travel, and find Provifions
furticient.
Then I fhewM him our Baegage, which was
very heavy, particularly our Powder and Shot,
Lead, Iron, Carpenters Tools, Seamens Inftru-
naents. Cafes of Bottles, and other Lumber. He
took fbme of the things up in his Hand to fee
the Weight, and fhook his Head at them • fb I
told our People, they muft refolve to divide their
Things into fmall Parcels, and make them porta-
ble ; and accordingly they did fo, by which means
we were fain to leave all our Chefts behind us,
which were Eleven in Number.
Then he made Signs to us, that he would pro-
cure Ibme Buffloes, or young Bulls, as I called
tknty to carry things for us, and made Signs too,
that if we were weary, we might be carry'd too ;
but that we flighted, only were willing to have
the Creatures, becaufe at lafi-, when they could
ferve us no farther for C.irriage, we might eat
them all up if we had any Occafion for them.
I then carry'd him to our Bark, and fhewed
him what things we had there; he feem'd
amazM at the Sight of our Bark, having never
feen any thing of that Kind before, for their Boats
are moifl: wretched things, fuch as I never faw be-
fore, having no Head or Stern, and being made
only of the Skins of Goats fewed together with
dried Guts of Goats and Sheep, and done over
with a kind of fliniy Stuff like Rofm and Oil,
but of a moft naufeous, odious Smell, and they
are poor milerable things for Boats, the worfl
that any Part of the World ever faw ; a Canoe is
an excellent Contrivance compared to them.
But
( 79 )
But to return to our Boat : We carried our
new Prince into it, and help'd him over the Side,
becaufe of his Lamenefs. We made Signs to him,
that his Men muft carry our Goods for us, and .
fhewedhim what we had *, he anfwer'd, Ce Seignior, U
or, Tes Sir^ (for. we had taught him thac Word, ^'
and the Meaning of it) and taking up a Bundle,
he made Signs to us, that when his Arm was well,
he would carry Ibme for us.
I made Signs again, to tell him, that if he
would make his Men carry them, we would not
let him carry any thing. We had fecured all the
Prifoners in a narrow Place, where we had bound
them with Matt Cords, and fet up Stakes like
a Palifado round them •, lb when we carry'd the
Prince on Shore, we went with him to them, and
made Signs to him, to ask them if they were wil-
ling to go with us to the Country of Lions. Ac-
cordingly he made a long Speech to them, and
we could under ftand by it, that he told them, if .
■ they were willing, they mufi: fay, €e Seignior, tel- I
ling them what it fignify'd. They immediately
anfwered, Ce Seignior, and clapt their Hands, (
looking up to the Sun, which the Prince figni-
fy'd to us, was Swearing to be faithful. But
as fbon as they had faid ib, one of them made a
long Speech to the Prince, and in it, we percei-
ved by hisGeflures, which were very antick, that
they defired Ibmething from us, and that they
were in great Concern about it. So I ask'd him
as well as I could, what it was they defired of us;
he told us by Signs, that* they defired we fhould
clap our Hands to 'the Sun (chat was to fwear)
that we would not kill them , that we would
give them Chiaruck, that is to fay, Bread, would
not ftarve them, and would not let the Lions eat
them. ,
(So)
them. I told him we would promile all that •
then he pointed to the Sun, and clapt his
Hands, fignini^ to me, that 1 iliould do ib too,
which I did- at which all the Prifoners fell flat
on the Ground, and rifing up again, made the
oddeft, wiideft Cries that ever I heard.
I think it was the firft time in my Life that
j ever any religious Thought affected me^ but
i I could not refrain fome Reflections, and almoft
/ Tears, in confidering how happy it was, that
I was not born among fuch Creatures as thefe,
and was not fo ftupidly ignorant and barbarous :
But this loon went off again, and I was not
troubled again with any Qjialms of that Sort
for a long time after.
When this Ceremony was over, our Concern
was to get Ibme Provifions, as well for the pre-
sent Subfiftence of our Prifoners, as our felves ^
and making Signs to our Prince, that we were
thinking upon that SubjeCi, he made Signs to
me, that if I would let one of the Prifoners go
to h's Town, he iliould bring Provifions, and
ihould bring fome Beafts to carry our Baggage.
I feemed loath to truft him, and fuppofmg that
he would run away, he made great Signs of Fi-
delity, and with his own Hands tied a Rope
about his Neck, offering me one End of it, inti-
mating, that 1 fliould hang him, if the Man did
not come again. So I conlented, and he gave him
Abundance of Inftru8:ions, and fent him away,
pointing to the Light of the Sun, which it feems
was to tell him, at what time he muft be back.
The Fellow run as if he was mad, and held
It till he was quite out of Sight, by which I
fuppofed he had a great Way to go. The next
Morning, about two Hours before the Time
appoin-
( 8i ;
appointed, the Black Prince, for ib f always
called him, beckoning with his Iiand to me,
and hollooing after his Manner, defired me to
come to him., which I did, when pointing to a little
Hill about two Miles ptf, I faw plainly a little
Drove of Cattel, and leveral People with them;
thofe he told me by Signs were the Man he had
lent, and feveral more with him., and Cattel for us.
Accordingly by the time appointed- he came
quite to our Hutts, and brought with him a great
manyGowys,oung Runts, about 1 6 Goats, and, four
young Bulls, taught to carry Burthens.
This was a Supply of Proviiiohs fliiEcient;, as
for Bread we were obliged to ihift with fome
Roots which we had made ufe of before. We
then began to con'fider of making Ibme large
Bags like the Soldiers Knapfacks, for their Men
to carry our Baggage in, and to make it eaf)'-
to them-, and the -Goats being killed; I ordered
the Skins to be fpread in the Sun, and they
were as dry in two Days as could be deiired ^ fo
wie found means to make fuch little Bags as w.e
wanted, and began to divide our Baggage into
them : When the Black Prince found -what
they were for, and how eafy they v^ere of Car-
riage when we put them, on, he fmiled a lit-
tle, and fent away the Man again to fetch
Skins, and he brought two Natives more
with him, all loaded with Skins better cured
than ours, and of other kinds, fiich as we could
not tell what Nam^s to give them.
T'hele two Men brought the Black p.rince two
Lances of the fort they ufe in their Fights, but
finer than (Ordinary, being made ot black fmooth
VVood, as fine as Ebony, and headed at the Point
with the End of a long Tooth of fome Creature,
G we
r
( s^ ■)
we could not tell of what Creature; the Head
was fo firm put on, and the Tooth fo ftrong,
tho'no bigger than my Thumb, and iharp at
the End, that 1 never law any thing like it
in any Place in the World.
The Prince would not take them till 1 gave
him Leave, but made Signs that they ihould
give them to me; however I gave him Leave
to take them himfelf, for I faw evident Signs of
an honourable jull: Principle in him.
We now prepared for our March, when
the Prince coming to me, and pointing to-
wards the feveral Quarters of the World, made
Signs to know, which way we intended to go;
sind when I ihewed him pointing to the Wef^,
he prefently let me know, there was a great
River a little further to the Korth, which was
able to carry our Bark many Leagues into the
Country due Weft. I ^prefently took the Hint,
'and enquired for the Mouth of the River, which
I underftoodby him was above a Day's March,
and by our Eftimation we found it about feven
Leagues further; I take this to be the great
River marked by our Chart-Makers at the
jSIorthmoft Part of the Coaft of Moz^ambique^ and
called thiere QuUtoa.
Confulting thus with our felves, we refblved
to take the Prince, and as many of the Prifoners
as we could flow in our Frigate, and go about
by the Bay into the River; and that eight of us
with our Arms ihould march by Land, to meet
them on the River-fide; for the Prince carrying
us to a rifmg Ground, had fliewM us the River
very plain a great Way up the Country,
2ind m one Place it was not above fix Miles
to it.
it
( 8? ;
It was my Lot to march by Land, and he
Captain of the whole Carravan: I had eight of
our own Men with me, and Seven and Thirty
6f our Prifoners, without any Baggage, for all
our Luggage was yet on board. We drove the
young Bulls with us*, nothing was ever fo
tame, fo willing to workj or carry any ' thing.
The Negroes would ride upon them four at a
Time, and they would go very willingly, they
would eat out of our Hand, lick our Feet, and
were as tradable as a Dog.
We drove with us fix or feven Cows for
Food ; but our Negroes knew nothing of curing
the Flefh by faking and drynig it, till we
ihew'd them the Way, and then they were
mighty willing to do fb as long as we had any
Salt to do it with, and to carry Salt a great
Way too, after we found we fhould have no more.
It was an eafy March to the River Side for us
that went by Land, and we came thirher in a
Piece of a Day, being as above not above fix Englijtj
Miles •, whereas it was no lefs than five Days
before they came to us by Water, the Wind in
the Bay having failed them, and the Way, by
Reafon of a great Turn or Reach in the River
being above fifty Miles about.
We fpent this time in a thing which the
two Strangers, which brought the Prince the
two Lances, put into the Head of the Prilbners ;
(viz..) to make Bottles of the Goats-SkinS to carry
frefh Water in, which it feems they knew we
fhould come to want ^ ard the Men, did it fo dex-
teroufly, having dried Skins fetched them by
tfhofe two Men, that before our Veffel came up,
they had every Man a Pouch like a Bladder, to
carry frefh Water in, hanging over their Shoulder
G 2 hy
( H)
by a Thong made of other Skins, about three In-,
dies broad, like the Sling of a Fuzee.
Our Prince, to afTure us of the Fidelity of the
Men in this March, had ordered them to be
tied two and two by the Wrift, as we handcuff
Prifoners in England-^ and made them lb fenfible
of the Realonablenefs of it, that he made them
do it themfelves, appointing four of them, to
bind the reft \ but we found them lb honeft, and par-
ticularly fb obedient to him, that after we were
gotten a little further off of their own Country,
we fet them all at Liberty, tho' when he came
to us, he would have them tied again, and they
continued fo for a good while.
All the Country on the Bank of the River was
a high Land, no marlhy fwampy Ground in it,
the Verdure good, and Abundance of Cattel feed-
' ing upon it, wherever we went, or which •
Way foever we look'd •, there was not much
Wood indeed, at leaft not near us, but further up
wefawOak, Cedar, and Pine Trees, fome of which
were very large.
The River was a fair open* 'Channel about as
broad as the Thames below Gravefend^ and a
ftrong Tide of Flood, which, we found held us
about'^o Miles, the Channel deep-, nor did we
^ find any Wani- of Water for a great Way. In
iliort, we went merrily up the River with the
Flood, and the Wind blowir.e ftill frefh at E. and
E. N. E, we ftemm'd the Ebb eafily alfo,efpecially
while the River continued broad and deep*, but
when we came pail: the Swelling of the Tide,
and had the nr^tural Current of the River to go
againft, we found it too ftrong for us, and began
to think of quitting our Bark; but the Prince
would by no means agree to that, for finding we
had
f 85;
had on board pretty good Store of Roping made
of Matts and Flags, which I defcribed "before,
he ordered all the Prifbners which were on ihore,
to come and take hold of thofe Ropes, and tow
us along by the Shore Side ♦, and as we hoifted
our Sail too, to eafe them, the Men run along
with us at a very great Rate.
In this Manner the River carry'd us up by our
Computation near 200 Miles, and then it narrow-
ed apace, and was not above as broad as the T^james
is at Windfor^ or thereabouts ^ and after another
Day, we came to a great Water-fall or Cataract,
enough to fright us, for I believe the whole
Body of Water fell at once perpendicularly down
a Precipice, above fixty Foot high, which made
a Noife enough to deprive men of their Hearing,
and we heard it above Ten Miles before we came
to it.
Here we were at a full Stop, and now our Prifb-
ners went firfl: on Shore *, they had worked very
hard, and very chearfuUy, relieving one another,
thole that were weary being taken into the Bark.
Had we had Canoes, or any Boats which might
have been carried by Mens Strength, we might
have gone 200 Miles more up this River in fmali
Boats, but our great Boat could go no farther.
All this Way the Country looked green and
pleafant, and was full of Gattel, and lome Peo-
ple we faw, tho' not many *, biit this we obferv'd
now, that the People did no more underftand our
Prifbners here, than we could underftand them;
being it feems of different Nations, and of diife-
rent Speech. We had yet feenno wild Beafl:s,or at
leafl none that came very near, us-, excep'rtwo
Days before we came at the Water-fall, when we
£uy three of the moll beautiful Leopards that ever
G 3 were
(U )
were feen, {landing upon the Bank of the River
on the North-fide, our Prifoners being all on the
other Side of the Water. Our Gunner efpy'd
them firft, and ran to fetch his Gun, putting a
Ball extraordinary in it^ and coming to me,
now Captain Boby fays he, where's your Prince,
fi) I called him out, now, fays he, tell your
Men not to be afraid, tell them they ihall fee
that Thing in his Hand, fpeak in Fire to one
of thofc Beafts, and make it kill it felf.
The poor Negroes looked as if they had
been all going to be killed, notwitManding
what their Prince faid to them, and ftood fla-
ring to expect the liTue, when on a fudden the
Gunner fired ^ and as he was a very good Marks-
Man, he fliot the Creature with two Sluggs juft
, in the Head. As foon as the Leopard felt her
felf ftruck, ihe rear'd up on her two hind Legs
bolt upright, and throwing her Fore-Paws about
in the Air, fell backward, growh'ng and ftrug-
gling, and immediately died^ the other two
j frighted with th^ Fire and the Noife,iiad, an d
' were out of Sight in an Inilant.
But the two frighted Leopards were not in
half the Conflernation that pur Prifoners were*,-
four or five of them fell down as if they had
been fhiot, feveral others fell on their Knees, and
lifted up their Hands to us*, whether to wor-
"ili'p us, or pray us not to kill them, we did
not know •, ]>at we made Signs to their Prince
to encourage them, which he did, but it wa^
xvith much adq that he brought them to their
Senfe ^, nay, the Prince, notwithftanding all that
was faid to prepare him for it, yet when the
piece went off, he gave a Start as if he would
have leap'd into the River.
^" ^ ^ • ' '- When
(S7;
When we faw the Creature killed, I had a
great Mind to have the Skin of her, and made
Signs to the Prince, that he fliould fend fome
of his Men over to take the Skin off . As fcon
as he fpoke but a Word, four of them that
offered themfelves were untied, and immediately
they jump'd into the River, and fwam over,
and went to work with him: The Prince ha-
ving a Knife that we gave him, made four wood-
en Knives lb clever', as I never faw any thing
like them in my- Life, and in lefs than an Hour's
time, they brought me the Skin of the Leopard,
which was a monflrous great one, for it was
from the Ears to the Tail about feven Foot,
and near five Foot Broad on the Back, and moft
admirably fpotted all over ^ the Skin of this
Leopard I brought to London many Years after.
We were now all upon a Level, as to our
travelling ; being unihipp'4, for our Bark would
fwim no farther, an(l fhie was too heavy to carry
on our Backs-, but as we found the Courie of the
River went a great Way farther, we confulted
our Carpenters, whether we could not pull the
Bark in Pieces, and make us three or four imall
Boats to go on with. They told us, we might do
fb, but it would be very long a-doing ; and, that
when we had done, we had neither Pitch or
Tar to make them found, to keep the W^ater
out, or Kails to faften the Plank ^ but one of
them toldus, that as foon as he could come at any
large Tree, near the River he would make us a
Canoe or two in a Quarter of the Time, and
which would ferve us as well for all the Ufes we
could have any Occafion for as a Boat ;^ and
fuch, that if we came to any Water-falls, wo
might take them up, and carry then? fgr a Mile
or two by Land, upon our Shoulders.
G 4 Upjn
• ( 88 )
Upon this we gave over the Thoughts of our
Frigate, and hauling her into a little Cove, or
Inlet, where a Imall Brook came into the main
River, we laid her up for thofe that came next,
and marched forward. We fpent indeed two
Days dividing our Baggage, and loading our
tame Bulfloes and our Kegroes: Our Pow-
der and Shot, which was the thing we were
moft careful of, we ordered thus : Firft the Powder
we divided into little Leather Bags, that is.
to fay, Bags of dried Skins with the Hair in-
ward, that the Powder might not grow damp-
and then we put thofe Bags into other Ba^s
made of Bullocks Skins, very thick a nd hard,
with the Hair outward, that no Wet might come
in^ and this fucceeded ib well, that in the
greateft Rains we had,.whereQf fome were very
violent and very long, we always kept our Pow-
der dry. Beiides thefe Bags which held our
chief Magazine, we divided to every one a
Quarter of a Pound of Powder, and Haifa Pound
of Shot to carry always about us^ which as it
was enough for our prelent Ufe, fo we were
willing to have no Weight to carry more than
was ablblutely necelTary, becaule of the Heat.
We kept ftill on the Bank of the River, and
for that Reafon had very little Communication
with the People of the Country ; for, having alio
our Park ftored with Plenty of Proviiioris, we
had had no Occafion to look abroad for a Sup-
ply ^ but now we came to march on Foot, we
were obliged often to leek out for Food. The
fir ft Place we came to on the River that gave us
,Miy Stop, was a little Negro Town, contain-
ing about 50 Hutts, and there appeared about
400 People, for they all came out to fee us,
- \- ^^ -ana
( 89 )
and wonder at us. When our Kegroes appea-
peared, the Inhabitants began to fly to Arms,
thinking there had been Enemies coming upon
them ^ but our Negroes, tho' they could not
fpeak their Language, made Signs to them, that
they had no Weapons, and were tied two and two
together, as Captives \ that there were People
behind who came from the Sun, and that could
kill them all, and make them alive again, if they
p leafed ; but that they would do them no Hurt,
and came with Peac^. As loon as they underftood
this, they laid down their Lances, and Bows and
Arrows, and came and ftuck twelve large Stakes
in the Ground, as a Token of Peace, bowing
themfelves to us in Token of Submiflion. But as
loon as they faw white Men with Beards, that \
is to fay, Muftachoes, they run fcreaming away |
as in a Fright. ^
We kept at a Diftance from them, not to be
too familiar ; and when we did appear, it was
but two or three of us at a time. But our Prifo-
ners made them under (land, that we required
Ibme Provifions of them ^ fb they brought us
fome black Cattel, for they have Abundance of
Cows and Buffioes all over that Side of the
Country, as alfo great Numbers of Deer. Our
Cutler, who had now a great Stock of things of
his Handy -work, gave them fome little Knick
Knacks, as Plates of Silver and of Iron, cut Dia-
mond Faihion, and cut into Hearts and into Rings,
and they were mightily plealed. They alfo
brought leveral Sorts of Fruits and Roots, which
we did not underftand, but our Negroes fed hear-
tily on them, and after we had leen them eat
them, we did fb too.
Having
(90 )
Having ftock'd our felves here with Fleili and
Roots as much as we could well carry, we divi-
ded the Burthens among our Negroes, appointing
about 30 to 40 Pound Weight to a Man, which
we thought indeed was Load enough in a hot
Country ^ and the Negroes did not at all repine
at it, but would fometimes help one another
when they began to be weary, which did happen
now and then, tho' not often ; Befides, as moft of
their Luggage was our Provifion, it lightened ev^-
ry Day lite ^fop's Basket of Bread, till we came
to get a Recruit. Note, when we loaded them,
we untied their Hands, and tied them two and
two together by one Foot. The third Day of our
March from this Place, our chief Carpenter defi-
red us to halt, and fet up fome Hutts, for he
had found out fomp Trees that he liked, and
refblved to make us fome Canoes • for as he told
.me, he knew we fhould have Marching enough on
Foot after we left the River, and he was refolved
to go no farther by Land than needs muft. ^„„.
We had no fooner given Order for our little
Camp, and given Leave to our Negroes to lay
down their Loads, but they fell to Work to build
our Hutts •, and tho' they were tied, as above,
yet they did it ib nimbly, as furprized us. ^ Here
we fet fome of the Negroes quite at Liberty,
that is to fay, without tying them, having the
Prince's Word pafs'd for th^ir Fidelity •, and fome
of thefe were ordered to help the Carpenters,
which they did very handily, with a little Di-
rection, and others were fent to fee whether they
could get any Provifion near Hand ; but inftead
of ProvifionSj three of them came in with two
Bows and Arrows, and Rve Lances. They could
not eafily make us underfland how they came by
them.
them, only that they had furpnzed fome Negroe
Women, who were in Ibme Hiitts, the Men be-
ing from Home, and they had found the Lances
and Bows in the Hutts or Houfes, the Women
and Children flying away at the Sight of them,
as from Robbers. We feem'd very angry at them, '
and made the Prince ask them, if they had not
kiird any of the Women or Children, making
them believe, that if they had kilfd any Body,
we would make them kill themielves too^ but
they protefted their Innocence, ib we excufed
them. Then they brought us the Bows and Ar-
rows and Lances^ but at a Motion of their black
Prince, we gave them back the Bows and Arrows,
and gave them Leave to go out to lee what they
could kill for Food •, and here we gave them the
Law of Arms, viz,. That if any Men appeared to
affault them, or ihoot at them, or offer any Vio-
lence to them, they might kill them- but that
they fhould not offer to kill or hurt any that
offet'd them Peace, or laid down their Weapons,
nor any Women or Children, upon any Occalion
whatfbever. Thefe were our Articles of War.
Thefe two Fellows had not been gone out above
three or four Hours, but one of them came run-
ning to us without his Bow and Arrows, hallooing
and hooping a great while before he came at us,
Okoamoy Okoamoy which it feems was, Help^ Help.
The reft of the Kegroes rofe up in a Hurry,*
and by Two's, as they could, run forward toward
their Fellows to know what the Matter was. As
for me, I did nor underftand it, nor any of our
People; the Prince look'd as if fomething unlucky
had fallen out, and fome of our Men took up
their Arms, to be ready on Occafion. But the
Negroes Icon difcover'd the Thing ^ for we faw
four
( 9r)
four of them prefently after coming along with a
great Load of Meat upon their Backs. The Cafe
was, that tlie firft two who went out with their
Bows and Arrows, meeting with a great Herd
of Deer in the Plain, had been fo nimble as to
ihoot three of them -^ and then one of them came
running to us for Help, to fetch them away.
This was the firft Venifon we had met with up-
on all our March, and we feafted upon it very
plentifully ; and this was the firft time we be-
gan to prevail with our Prince to eat his Meat
I dreft our Way • after which, his Men were pre-
vailed with by his Example, but before that^ they
cat moft of the Flefh they had quite raw.
We wifh'd now we had brought fbme Bows and
Arrows out with us, which we might have done ^
and we began to have lb much Confidence in
our Negroes, and to be fo familiar with them,
that we oftentimes let them go, or the greateft
Part oi them, unty'd, being well afTured they
would not leave us, and that they did not know
what Courfe to take without us ^ but one thing
we refblved not to truft them with, and that was
the Charging our Guns ^ but they always believed
our Guns had Ibme heavenly Power in them, that
they would fend forth Fire and Smoke, and fpeak
with a dreadful Noife, and kill at a Diftance
whenever we bid them.
In about eight Days we iinifhed three Ca-
noes, and in them we embarked our white Men
and our Baggage, with our Prince, and fome of
the Prifoner's. We alfo found it needful to keep
Ibme of our felves always on Shore, not only
to manage the Negroes, but to defend them from
Enemies and wild Beafts. Abundance of little
Incidents happened upon this March, which it is
not
( 99 ).
not poiTible to crowd into this Account ; parti-
cularly, we faw more wild Beafts now than we -
did before, feme Elephants, and two or three
Lions *, none of which Kinds we had feen* any of
before ^ and we found our Negroes were more
afraid of them a great deal than we were •, prin-
cipally becaufe they had no Bows and Arrows,
or Lances, which were the particular Weapons
they were bred up to the Exercife of.
But we cured them of their Fears, by being
always ready with our Fire-Arms. However, as
we were willing to be fparing of our Powder,
and the Killing any of the Creatures now was no
Advantage to us, feeing their Skins were too hea-
vy for us to carry, and their Fleih not good to
eat, we refolved therefore to keep fome of our
Pieces uncharged, and only primM, and caufing
them to flafti in the Pan, the Beafts, even the
Lions themselves, would always ft^rt:, and fly-
back when ^hey faw it, and immediately march oif.
We paft Abundance of Inhabitants upon this
upper Part of the River, and with this Oblerva-
tion, that almoft every ten Miles we came to,
a feveral Nation, and every leveral Nation had
, a different Speech, or elle their Speech had dif^
fering Dialeds, fo that they did not underftand
one another. They all abounded in Cattel, efpe-
cially on the River Side ^ and the eighth Day of
this fecond Navigation, we met with a little Ne-
groe Town, where they had growing a Sort of
Corn like Rice, which eat very fweet •, and as we
got fome of it of the People, we made very good
Cakes of Bread of it, and making a Fire, bak'd
them on the Ground, after th« F"re was fwept
away very well -^ Co that hitherto we had no
Want of Provifions of any kind we could defire.
Our
(9+)
Our Negroes towing our Canoes, we travel-
led at a confiderable Rate, and by our own Ac-
count, could not go lefs than 20 or 25 BngUjlj
Miles a Day, and the River continuing to be much
at the fame Breadth, and very deep all the Way,
till on the tenth Day we came to another Ca-
tarad^ for a Ridge of high HillscrolTingthe whole
Channel of the River, the Water came tumbling
down the Rocks from one Stage to another in
a ftrange Manner : So that it was a continued
Link of Catarafts from one to another, in the
Manner of a Caskade *, only, that the Falls were
fbmetimes a Quarter of a Mile from one another,
and the Noile confufed and frightful.
We thought our Voyaging was at a full Stop
now ; but three of us, with a Couple of our
2^egroes, mounting the Hills another Way, to
view the Courfe of the River, we found a fair
Channel againafter about half a Mile's March, and
that it was like to hold us a good Way farther.
So we fet all Hands to Work, unloaded our Car-
go, and hauled our Canoes on Shore, to lee if
we could carry them.
Upon Examination, we found that they were
very heavy -^ but our Carpenters fpending but
one Day's Work on them, hew'd away ib much
of the Tim.ber from their Outfides, as reduced
them very much, and yet they were as fit to
l\vim as before. When this was done, ten Men
with Poles took up one of tlie Canoes, and made
nothing to carry it. So we ordered twenty Men
to each Canoe, that one Ten might relieve an-
other *, and thus we carried all our Canoes, and
launch'd them into the Water again, and then
fetch'd our Luggage, and loaded it all again
into the Canoes, and all in an Afternoon • and
the
(9^^ )
the next Morning early we movM forward a-
gain. When we had towed about four Days
more, our Gunner, who was our Pilot, begun to
obferve that we did not keep our right Courle fb
exactly as we ought, the River winding away a
Jittle towards the North, and gave us Notice
of it accordingly. However, we were not wil-
ling to lole the Advantage of Water-Carriage, ac
leaft not till we were forced to it *, fb we jogg'd on,
and the River ferved us about Threefcore Miles
further *, but then we found it grew very fmall
and fhallow, having pafs'd the Mouths of leve-
ral little Brooks or Rivulets which come into it,
and at Length it became but a Brook it felf.
We tow'd up as far as ever our Boats would
fwim, and we went two Days the further, ha-
ving been about twelve Days in this lafl Part
of the River, by Lightning the Boats, and taking
our Luggage out, which we made the Negroes
carry, being willing to eafe our feives as long
as we could ^ but at the End of thefe two Days,
in fhort, there was not Water enough to fwim
a London Wherry.
We now fet forward wholly by Land, and
without any Expedation of more Water Carri-
age. All our Concern for more Water, was to
be fure to have a Supply for our Drinking • and
therefore upon every Hill that we came near,
we clamber'd up to the highefl Part, to fee the
Country before us, and to make the befl Judg-
ment we could which way to go to keep the low-
eft Grounds, and as near fbme Stream of Water
as we could.
The Country held verdant, well grown with
Trees, and fpread with Rivers and Brooks, and
tolerably well with Inhabitants, for about thirty
Days
( 96 )
Days March. After our leaving the Canoes, du-
ring which time things went pretty well with
us ^ we did not tye our felves.down when to
march, and when to halt, but order'd thofe
things as our Convenience, and the Health and
Eaie of our People, as well our Servants, as our
felves, required.
About the Middle of this March, we came
into a low and plain Country, in which we per-
ceived a greater Number of Inhabitants than in
any other Country we had gone thro% but that
which was worfe for us, we found them a fierce,
barbarous, treacherous People, and who at firft
look'd upon us as Robbers, and gathered them-
lelves in Numbers to attack us.
' Our Men were terrified at them at firft, and
began to difcover an unufual Fear *, and even our
black Prince feemed in a great deal of Confufion :
But I fmiled at him, and ihewing him fbme of our
Guns, I asked him, if he thought that which
killed the fpotted Cat, (for fo they called the
Leopard in their Language) could not make a
Thoufand of thole naked Creatures die at one
Blow? Then he laughM, and faid Yes, he believ'd
it would. Well then, faid I, tell your Men not
' to be afraid of thefe People, for we fhall foon
give them a Tafte of what we can do, if they
pretend to meddle with us. However, we con-
sidered we were in the Middle of a vaft Coun-
try^ and we knew not what Numbers of Peo-
ple "^nd Nations we might be furrounded with-,
and above all, we knew not how much we
mieht ftand in Need of the FriendfJiip of thefe
that we were now among -^ fo that we ordered the
Negroes, to try rill the Methods tliey could, to
make them Friends.
Accor-
( 97 )
Accordingly, the two ^Men who had gotten
Bows and _Arrows, and two more to whom we
gave the Prince's two fine Lances, went foremoft
with five more having long Poles in their Hands^
and after them ten of our Men advanced toward
the Kegro Town that was next to us, and we
all flood ready to fuccour them if there iliould
be Occafion.
When they came pretty near their Houfes,
our Negroes halloo'd in their fcreaming Way, and
called to them as loud as they could ^ upon their
calling, fome of the Men came out, and anfwer'd,
and immediately after the whole Town, Men
Women and Children appeared : Our Negroes
with their long Poles went forward a little, and
ftuck them all in the Ground, and left them,
which in their Country was a Signal of Peace, but
the other did not underfland the Meaning of
that. Then the two Men with Bows, laid down
their Bows and Arrows, went forward unarmed,
and made Signs of Peace to them, which at
laft the other began to underftand^ fo two of
their Men laid down their Bows and Arrows,
and came towards them : Our Men made all the
Signs of Friendihip to them that they could
think of, putting their Hands up to their
Mouths, as a Sign that they wanted Provifions to
eat, and the other pretended to be pleafed and
friendly, andT went back to their Fellows, and
talk'd with them a while, and they came forward
again, and made Signs that they would Bring
fome Provifions to them before the Sun fet ; and
lb our Men came back again very well fatisfied
for that time.
But an Hour before Sun-fet our Men went to ■
them again, juft in the fame Poflure as before,
H and
(98)
A-ui they came accordino^ to theu* Appointm6nf,'
2tnd brought Doers Fleih, Roots, nrA the fame
kind of Corn like Rice, which I mentioned ahove^
nnd our Negroes being furnifhM with fuch Toys
as our Cutler had contrived, gave them fome of
them, which they feem'd infinitely pleas'd with,
and promis'd to bring more Pro/ifions the next
Day.
Accordingly, the next Day they came again,
but our Men perceived they were more in Num-
ber by a great many than before^ however, ha-
ving fent out tQn Men with Fire- Arms to ftand
ready, and our whole Army being in View alio,
we were not much furprized ^ nor was the
Treachery of the Enemy fo cunningly ordered
as in other Cafes ^ for they might have fur-
rounded our Negroes, which, were but nine,
under a Shew of Peace-, but when they faw our
Men advance almoft as far as the Place where
they were the Day before, the Rogues fnatch'd
I np their Bows and Arrows, and come running
upon our Men like fo many Furies, at which
our ten Men called to the Negroes to come back
to them, which they did with Speed enough at
the firft Word, and flood all behind our Men.
As they fled, the other advanced, and let fly
near a t oo ot their Arrows at them, by which
x*wo of our Negroes were wounded, and one we
thought had been killed. When they came to
the ffve Poles that our Men had ftuck in the
Ground, they ftood ftill a while, and -gathering
about the Poles, looked at them, and handled
them as wondering at what they meant. We
then who were drawn up behind all, fent one ot
our Number to our ten Men, to bid them fire
nmong them, while they ftood fo thick, and to
put
( 99 )
put fome fmall Shot into their Guns, befides
the ordinary Charge, and to tell them, that we
would be up with them immediately.
. Accordinu;ly they made ready, but by that
time they were ready to fire^ the Black Army
had left their wondering about the Poles^ and
began to ftir as if they would come on, thp' fee-
ing more Men (land at fome Diftance behind
our Negroes, they could not tell what to make of
us •, butif they did not underhand us before, they
iniderftood us lefs afterwards, for as loon as ever
our Men found them begin to move forward^
they fired among the thickeft of them, being
about the Diftance of 120 Yards, as near as we
could guefs.
It is impofTible to exprcifs the Fright, the
Screaming and Yelling of thofe Wretches upon
this firft Volley f, we killed fix of them, and woun-
ded 1 1 or 1 2, 1 mean as we knew of-, for, as they
ilood thick, and the fmall Shot, as we called it^
fcattered among them, we had Reafon to believe
we wounded more that flood farther oft'- for our
imall Shot was made of Bits of Lead, and Bits
of Iron, Heads of Nails, and fuch things as
our diligent Artificer the Cutler helped us to. .
As to thofe that were killed and wounded, the
other frighted Creatures were under the greateft j
Amazement in the World, to think what fliouid
hurt them ^ for they could fee nothing but
Holes made in their Bodies they knew not how.
Then the Fire and the Noife amazed all their
Women and Children, and frighted them out of |
their Wits, that they ran flaring and howling
about like mad Creatures.
^However, all this did not make them fly^'
^hich was what we wanted j nor did we find
H z any
f lOO )
any of them die as it were with Fear, as at fir ft,
lb we relblved upon a fecond Volley, and then
to advance as we did before. Whereupon our
referred Men advancing, we refblved to fire
only three Men at a time, and move forward
Jike an Army firing in Platoons^ fo being all in
Line we fired fir ft three on the Right, then
three on the Left, and fbon- and every time we
killed or wounded fome of them ^ but ftill they
did not tiy, and yet they were fb frighted, that
they ufed none of their Bows and Arrows, or
of their Lances^ and we thought their Numbers
encreaftd upon our Hands •, particularly we
thought fo bytheNoife^ fo I called to our Men
to halt, and bid them pour in one whole Volley,
and then ftiout, as \<re did in our firft Fight, and
lb run in upon them, and knock them down
with our Mufquets.
But they were too wife for that too, for as foon
as we had fired a whole Volley, and ftiouted,
they all run away, Men, Women, and Children,
fo faft, that in a few Moments we could not fee
one Creature of them, except fome that were
wounded and lame, who lay wallowing and
Icreaming here and there upon the Ground, as
th^iy happen'd to fall.
Upon this we came up to the Field of Battle,
where we found we had killed 37 of them, among
which were three Women, and had wounded
about 64 among which were two Women ^ by
wounded I mean, fuch as were fo maimed, as not
to be able to go away, and thofe our Negroes
killed afterwards in a cowardly manner in cold
Blood, for which we were very angry, and
tiu'eatned to make them go to them if they did
To ai^ain.
There
( loi ;
There was no great Spoil to be got, for they
were all ftark naked as they came into thd
World, Men and Women together^ lome ojr
them having Feathers ftuck in their Hair, and
others a kind of Bracelets about their Necks, but
nothing elfe^ but our Negroes got a Booty
here which we were very glad of, and this was
tlije Bows and Arrows of the vanquiHi^d, of
which they found more than they knew what
to do with, belonging to the killed and woun-
ded Men;, thefe we ordered them to pick up, and
they were very uleful to us afterwards. After
the Fight, and our Negroes had gotten Bows
and Arrows, we lent them out in Parties to fee
what they could get, and they got fome Pro-
vifions^ but, which was better than all the reil:, /
they brought us four more young Bulls, or Buf- ^
floes, that had been brought up to Labour, and
to carry Bur^'iens : They knew them, it, leenis,
by the Burtheiis they had carry'd having galled
their Backs ^ for, they have no Saddles to cover
them with in that Country.
Thofe Creatures not only ea(ed our Negroes,
but gave us an Opportunity to carry more Pro-
vifions, and our Negroes loaded them very hard
at this Place, with Flefh and Roots, fuch as
we wanted very much afterwards.
In this Town we found a very little young Leo-
pard, about two Spans high^ it was exceedini^
tame, and purr'd like a Cat when we ftroked it
with our Hands,being, as I fuppofe, bred up am.ong
the Negroes like a Houfe-Dog. It was our Black
Prince, it leems, who making his Tour among the
abandoned Houfes or Hutts, found this Crea-
ture there, and making much of him, and givinij;
H 3 a Bit
I
( lOl )
ja Bit or twvo of Flefhtohim, the Creatui » fol-
lowed him like a Dog*, of which more hereafter.
Among the Neijr^es *-hat were killed in this
Batt'e, there was one who had a little thin Bit
or Plate of Gold, about as bic; as a Six-Pence,
which hiine; by a little Bit of a twifted Gutt,
ypon his F< rehead, by which we fuppofed he
was a Man of fome Eminence a m on 9; them. ^ but
that was not all^ for this Bit of Gold put us
upon iearching very narrowly, if there was not
more of it to be had thereabouts, but we
ound no ne at all.
From this Part of the Country we went on for
"about 1 5 Days, and then found our felves obliged
to march up a high Ridge of Mountains frightful
to behold, and the firft of the Kind that we met
with \ and having no Guide but our little Pocket
Compafs, we had no Advantage of Information
as to which was the befl:, or the worft Way, but
were obliged to chufe by what we faw, and fhift
as well as we could. We met with fever a I Na-
tions of wild and naked People in the plain Coun-
try, before we came to thofe Hills, and we found
them much more traOrable and friendly than thole
Devils we had been forc'd to fight with •, and tho^
^e could learn little from thefe People, yet we
imderftood by the Signs they made, that there
was a vaft Defart beyond thole Hills, and, as our
Negroes called theniy much Lion, much Ipotted Cat
(fo^they called the Leopard) and they iign'd to us
alio, that we muft carry Water With us. At the
iaft of thefe Isations we furnifhed our felves
with as much Provifion as we could poffibly car*
ry, not knowing what we had to fuffer, or what
Length we had to go ; and to make our Way as
familiar to us as poilibie, I propofed, that of
" thi^
( lo? )
die kftlnhabitants we could find, we flioiild make
Ibme Prifoners, and carry them with us for
Guides over the Defart, and to aflift us in car-
rying Provifion, and perhaps in getting it too.
The Advice was too necelTary to be flighted ;
fb finding by our dumb Signs to the Inhabitants,
that there were fome People that dwelt at thft
Foot of the Mountains, on the other Side, be-
fore we came to the Deilirt it felf, we refblved
to farniih our felves with Guides, by fair Means
or foul.
Here, by a mode^ate Computation, we conclu-
ded our lelves 700 Miles from the Sea Coaft
where we began. Our Black Prince was this Day
let free from the Sling his Arm hung in, our Sur-
geon having perfectly reftored it, and he ihewed
it to his own Countrymen quite well , which
made them greatly wonder. Alio our two Ne-
groes began to recover, and their Wounds to heal
apace, for our Surgeon was very, skilful in ma*
naging their Cure.
Having with infinite Labour mounted thefe
Hills, and coming to a View of the Country be-
yond them, it was indeed enough to aftoniih a«;
ftout a Heart as ever was created. It was a vaft
howling Wildernefs, not a Tree, a River, or a
Green thing to be ieen, for as far as the Eye
could look ; nothing but a Icalding Sand, which,
as the Wind blew, drove about in Clouds, enough
to overwhelm Man and Beaft *, nor could we fee
any End of it, either before us, which was
our Way, or to the right Hand or left: So that
truly our Men began to be difcouraged, and
talk of going back again -^ nor could we indeed
think of venturing over fuch a horrid Place is
H 4. tha?
(104. ;
that before us, in which we faw nothing but pre-
feat Death.
I was as much affected with the Sight as any
of them, but for all that I could not bear the
Thoughts of going back again. I told them we had
march'd 700 Miles of our Way, and it would be
worfe than Death to think of going back again ^
and that if they thought the Defart was not pafTa-
ble,I thought vveihould rather change our Courfe,
ixnd travel South till we came to the Cape of Good
Hope J or North to the Country that lay along the
Nile^ where perhaps we might find fbme Way
or other over to the Weft Sea *, for fure all Africa
was not a Defart.
Our Gunner, who, as I faid before, was our
Guide as to the Situation of Places, toLd us, that
he could not tell what to fay to going for "the
Cape :, for it was a monftrous Length, being from
the Place where -we now were, not lefs than
1 500 Miles, and by his Account, we were come
now a third Part of the Way to the Coaft of AngoUy
\vhere we iliould meet with the Weftern Ocean,
and find Ways enough for our Efcape Home. On
the other Hand, he allured us, and Diewed us a
Map of it, that if we went Northward, the We-
fi:ern Shore o^Africh went out into the Sea above a
Thoufand Miles Weft ^ fo that we fhould have fo
5nuch, and more Land, to travel afterwards;
which Land might, for ought we knew, be as
wild, barren, and defart, as this : And therefore,
upon the whole, he propofed' that we fhould at-
tempt this Defart, and perhaps we fhould not find
it 10 long as we feared *, and however, he pro-
ppfed that we ihould lee how far our Provifions
would carry us, and in particular, our Water *,
^nd that wq fliouid venture no farther than Half
( »°5 )
lb far as our Water would laft ; and if we found
no End of the Defart, we might come lafely back
again.
This Advice was lb reafonable, that we all
approved of it; and accordingly we calculated,
that we were able to carry Provifi(3ns for 42
Days, but that we could not carry Water for
above 26 Days, tho' we were to fuppofe it to
ftink too before that time expired. So that we
concluded, that if we did not come at fome Wa-
ter in ten Days time, we would return, but if we
found a Supply of Water, we could then travel
21 Days; and if we faw no End of the Wilder-
nefs in that time, we would return alfo.
With this Regulation of our Meafures, we de-
fcended the Mountains, and it was the lecond
Day before we quite reached the Plain, where
however, to make us amends, we found a fine
little Rivulet of very good Water, Abundance
of Deer, a Ibrt of Creature like a Hare, but not
fo nimble, and whofe Fleih we found very agree-
able •, but we were deceived in our Intelligence,
for we found no People ; fo we got no more Prifo-
ners to ailift us in carrying our Baggage.
The infinite Number of Deer and other Creatures
which we faw here, we found was occafioned by
the Neighbourhood of the Waft or Defart, from
whence they retired hither for Food and Refrefh-
ment. We ftored our lelves here with Flefh and
Roots of divers Kinds, which our Negroes under-
ftood better than we, and which ferved us for
Bread ; and with as much Water as, (by the Al-
lowance of a Quart a Day to a Man for our Ne-
groes, and three Pints a Day a Man for our felves,
and three Quarts a Day each, for our Buffloes)
"Wuld ferve us 20 Days : And thus loaden for a
long
( io6 )
long miierable March,, we fet forward, being
all Ibund in Health, and very chearful, but not
alike ftrong for fb great a Fatigue ; and which
was our Grievance, were without a Guide.
In the very firft Entrance of the X^^aft, we
were exceedingly difcouraged; for we found the
Sand fo deep, and it fcalded our Feet fb much with
the Heat, that after we had, as I may call it, wa-
ded rather than walk'd thro' it, about (even or
eight Miles, we were all heartily tired and faint ;
even the very Negroes lay down and panted, like
Creatures that had been pufh'd beyond their
Strength.
Here we found the Difference of Lodging greats
ly injurious to us ^ for (as before) we always made
uis Hutts to fleep under, which cover'd us from
the Night Air, which is particularly unwholelbm
in thofe hot Countries : But we had here no Shel-
ter, no Lodging after fo hard a March •, for here
were no Trees, no not a Shrub near us : And
which was flill more frightful, towards Night we
began to hear the Wolves howl, the Lions bel-
low, and a great manv wild Aifes braying, and
other ugly Noifes Vi^hich we did not underftand.
Upon this we reflected upon our own Indifcre-
tion, that had not at leavt brought Poles or Stakes
in our Hands, with which we might have, as it
\vere pallifadoed our felves in for the Night ;
and fo we might have flept fecure, whatever
other Inconveniences we fuffer'd. However, we
found a Way at laft to relieve our felves a little.
For fir ft we fet up the Lances and Bows we
had^ and endeavoured to bring the Tops of them
^s near to one another as we could^ and fb hung
our Coats on the Top of them, which made us
a kind of a ferry Tent : the Leopard' :^ Skin^, and
a few
( lo? )
a few other Skms we had put together, made us
a tolerable Covering,-and thus we lay down to
Sleep, and flept very heartily too for the firft
Night, fetting however a good Watch, being two
of our own Men with their Fuzees, whom we re-
iiev'd in an Hour at firft, and two Hours after-
wards ; and it was very well we did this ^ for
they found the Wildernefs fwarm'd with raging
Creatures of all Kinds, fome of which cair-: di-
re£l:ly up to the very Enclofure of our Tent. But
our Centinels were ordered not to alarm us with
Firing in the Kight, but to flaih in the Pan at
them, which they did, and found it effeftuai •, for
the Creatures went off always as foon as they faw
it, perhaps with fome Noife or Howling, and
purfued fiich other Game as they were upon.
if we were tired with the Day's Travel, we
were all as much tired with the Night's Lodging :
But our Black Prince told us in the Morning, he
would give us Ibme Counfel, and indeed it was
very good Counfel. He told us we ihould all be
kiird if we went on this Journey, and thro' this
Defart, without fome Covering for us at Night ;
lb he advifed us to march back again to a little
River Side where we lay the Night before, and
ftay there till we could make us Houles, as he
called them, to carry with us to lodge in every
Night. . As he began a little to underftand our
Speech, and we very well to underftand his Signs,
we eafily knew what he meant, and that we
ihould there make Matts •, (for we remembered
that we faw a great deal of Matting, or Bafs
there that the Natives make Matts of ) I fay,
that we fliould make large Matts there for Co-
hering our Hutts or Tents to lodge in at Night.
We
We all approvM tliis Advice, and immediately
refolved to go back that one Day's Journey, re-
Iblving, tho' we carried lefs Proviiions, we would -
cany Matts with us to cover us in the Night.
Some of the nimbleft of us got back to the River
with more Eafe than we had travell'd it out the
Day before; but as we were not in Hafte, the reft
made a Halt, encamp'd another Kight, and came
to us the next Day.
In our Return of this Day's Journey, our Men
that made two Days of it, met with a very fur-
prizing thing, that gave them fome Realbn to
be careful how they parted Company again. The
Cafe was this. The fecond Day in the Morning,
before they had gone Half a Mile, looking be-
hind them, they faw a vaft Cloud of Sand or
Duft rife in the Air, as we fee fometimes in the
Roads in Summer, when it is very dufty, and a
large Drove ofCattel are coming, only very much
greater ; and they could eafily perceive that it
came after them, and that it came on fafter than
they went from it. The Cloud of Sand was (b
great, that they could not fee what it was that
raifed it, and concluded, that it was fome Army of
Enemies that purflied them •, but then confidermg
that they came from the vaft uninhabited Wil-
dernefs, they knew, it was impoiUble any Na-
tion or People that Way fhould have Intelli-
gence of them, or of the Way of their March :
And therefore, if it was an Army, it muft be of
fuch as they were, travelling that Way by Acci-
dent. On the other Hand, as they knew that
there were no Horfes in the Country, and that
they came pn fo faft, they concluded, that it
muft be fome vaft Collodion of wild Beafts, per-
haps makinc to the Hill Country for Food or
Water,
( 109 )
Water, and that they lliould be all devoured or
trampled under Foot by their Multitude.
Upon this Thought, they very prudently ob-
ferved which Way the Cloud feem'd to point,
and they turned a little out of their Way to
the North, fuppofmg it might pafs by them.
When they were about a Quarter of a Mile, they
halted to fee what it might be. One of the Ne-
groes, a nimbler Fellow than the reft, went back
a little, and come again in a few Minutes, run-
ning as faft as the heavy Sand would allow, and
by Signs gave them to know, that it was a great
Herd or Drove, or whatever it might be called,
of vaft monftrous Elephants.
As it was a Sight our Men had never feen, they
were defirous to lee it, and yet a little uneafy at
the Danger too ^ for tho' an Elephant is a heavy,
unwieldy Creature, yet in the deep Sand, which
was nothing at all to them, they marched at a
great Rate, and would foon have tired our People,
iftheyhadhad far to go, and had been jpurfued
by them.
Our Gunner was with them, and had a great
Mind to have gone clofe up to one of the outer-
moft of them, and to have clapt his Piece to his
Ear, and to. have fired into him, becaufe he had
been told no Shot would penetrate them ^ but
they all diffwaded him, left, upon the Noife, they
fhould all turn upon, and purfue us*, fb he was
reafoned out of it, and let them pafs, which in
our People's Circumftance was certainly the right
Way.
They were between 20 and 30 in Number, but
prodigious great ones -^ and tho' they often ftiew'd
our Men that they faw them., yet they did not
turn out of their Way, or take any other Notice
of
of thein, than, as we might fay^ juft to loot rJt
them. We that were before, law the Cloud of
Duft they raifed, but we thought it had been
our own Carravan, and ^o took no Notice ^ buc
as they bent tlieir Courfe one Point of the Com-
pafs, or thereabouts, to x\\^ Southward of the
Eafl:, and we went due Eaft, they pafs'd by us
at fome little Diftance ; fo tliat we did not fee
them, or know any thing of them till Evening,
when our Men came to us, and gave lis this Ac-
count of them. However, this was a uleful Ex-
periment for cur future Conduct in pafling the
Deiart, as you iliall hear in its Place.
We were now upon our Work, and our Black
Prince was Head Surveyor, for he was an excel-
lent Matt-Maker himfelf, and all his Men under-
ilood it ; io that they fbon made us near a Hun-
dred Matts : And as every Man, I mean of the
Negroes, carried one, it was no Manner of Load,
and we did not carry an Ounce of Proviiions the
iefs. The greateft Burthen was to carry fix long
Poles, befides fome ihorter Stakes^ but the Ne-
groes made an Advantage of that, for carrying
them between twOj they made the Luggage of
Provifion-^; which they had to carry, fo much the
lighter, binding it upon two Poles, and fb made
three Couple of them. As foon as we faw this,
we made a little Advantage of it too^ for having
three or four of our Baggs called Bottles, (I mean
Skins or Bladders to carty Water) more than the
Men could carry, we got them ftlfd, and carried
them this Way, which was a Day's Water and
more for our Journey.
Having now ended our W^ork, made our Matts,
and fully recruited oui Stores of all things ne-
ceifary,*and having made us Abundance of. fmail
Ropes
fin)
Rb^es of Matting for ordinary Uie, as we might
have Occafion, we fet forward again, having
interrupted our Journey eight Days in all, upon
this Afeir. To our great Comfort, the Night
before we fet out, there fell a very violent Show-
er of Rain, the Effefts of which we found in the
Sand • tho' the Heat of one Day dry'd the Sur-
face as much as before, yet it was harder at Bot-
tom, not fo heavy, and was cooler to our Feet,
by which Means we march'd, as we reckoned,
about fourteen Miles inftead of feven, and with
much more Eafe.
When we came to encamp, we had all things
ready, for we had fitted our Tent, and let it up
for Trial where we made it ; lb that in lels than
an Hour, we had a large Tent railed, with an
Inner and Outer Apartment, and two Entrances.
In one we lay our felves, in the other our Ne-
groes, having light pleafant Matts over us, and
others at the fame time under us. Alio we had
a little Place without all for our Buffloes, for they
deferved our Care, being very uleful to us, be-
fides carrying Forage and Water for themfelves.
Their Forage was a Root which our Black Prince
directed us to find, not much unlike a Pafnip, ve-
ry moift and nouriHiing, of which there was Plen*
ty wherever we came, this horrid Defart ex-
cepted.
When we came the next Morning to decamp,
our Negroes took down the Tent, and puH'd up
the Stakes, and all was in Motion in as little time
as it was fet up. In this Pofture we marchM
eight Days, and yet could fee no End, no Change
of our ProfpeO:, but all looking as wild and dif-
mal as at the Beginning. If there was any Alte-
ration, it was, that the Sand was no where fo deep
and
( I'O
and heavy as it was the firft three Days. This
we thought m^izht be, becaiife for fix Months
of the Ye^r the Winds blowing Weft, (as for
the other fix, they blew conftantly Eaft) the
Sand was driven violently to the Side of the Defart
where we fet out, where the Mountains lying
very hiG;h, the Eafterly Monfoons, when they
blew, had not the fuiie Power to drive it back
again*, and this was confirm'd by our finding
the like Depth of Sand on the fartheft Extent
of the Def^irt to the Weft.
It was the ninth Day of our Travel in this
Wildernefs, when we came to the View of a great
Lake of Water, and you may be fure this was
a particular Satisfiftion to us, becaufe we had
not Water left for above two or three Days
more, at our fliorteft Allowance \ I mean, al-
lowing Water for our Return, if we had been
driven to the NeceiFxty of it. Our Water had
ferved us two Days longer than we expe£ted,
our Buffloes having^ found for two or three Days,
a kind of Herb like a Broad flat Thiftle, tho'
without any Prickle, fpreading on the Ground
and growing in the Sand, which they eat freely
of, and which fupplied them for Drink as well
as Forage.
The next Day, which was the tenth from our
fetting out, we came to the Edge of this Lake,
and very happily for us, we came to it at the
South Point of itj for to the North we could fee
no End of it ^ fo we paffed by it, and travelled
three Days by the Side of it, which was a great
Comfort to us, becaufe it lightened our Bur-
then, there being no need to carry Water, when
we had it in View^ and yet, tho' here was lb
much Water, we found but very little Altera-
tiou
( "?)
tion in the Defart, no Trees, no Grafs or Her-
bage, except that Thiftle, as I call'd it, and two
or three more Plants, which we did not under-
iland, of which the Defart began to be pretty
full.
But as we were refreihed with the Neighbour-
hood of this La\e of Water, fb we were now
gotten among a prodigious Number of ravenous
Inhabitants, the like whereof, tis moft certain
the Eye of Man never faw ; For as I firmly believe,
that never Man, nOr a Body of Men, paffed this
Defart lince the Flood, Co I believe there is not
the like Colleftion of fierce, ravenous, and de-
vouring Creatures in the World ^ I mean not in
any particular Place.
For a Dsiy's Journey before we came to this
Lake, and all the three Days we were pafling
by it, and for fix or feven Days March after it,
the Ground wasfcattered with Elephants Teeth,
in fiich a Number, as is incredible ^ and as fbme
of them may hftve lain there for fome Hundreds
of Years, fb feeing the Subflance of them fcarce
ever decayes, they may lye there for ought I
know to the End of Time. The Size of fbme
of them is, it feems, to thofe to whom I have
reported it, as incredible as the Number, and I
can afiiire you, there were feveial fb heavy, as
the flrongeft Man among us could not lift. As
to Number, I queflion not bur there are enough
to load a thoufand Sail of the biggeft Ships in the
World, by which I may be und^^rf^ood to mean,
that the Quantity is not to be conceded cf^
leeing that as they Lifted inView for above eighty
Miles Travelling, fb they might continue as %r
to the right Hand, and to the left as far, and
^aany times as far, for ought we knew :, for ie
I f€em3
feems' the Kumber of Elephants hereabouts is
prodigious great. In one Place in particular, we
faw the Head of an Elephant, with feveral Teeth
in it, but one the biggeft that ever 1 faw: TheF.leih
was confumed to be fure many Hundred Years
before, and all the other Bones •, but three of
our ftrongeft Men could not lift this Scull and
Teeth : The great Tooth, 1 believe, weighed at
leaft 300 Weight, and this was particularly re-
markable to me, that I obferved the whole Scull
was as good Ivory as the Teeth, and I believe all
together weighed at leaft 600 Weight, and the'
I do not know but, by the fame Rule, all the
Bones of the Elephant may ^ be Ivory ^ yet I
think there is this juft Objedion againft it
from the Example before me, that then all the
other Bones of this Elephant would have been
there as well as the Head.
I propofed to our Gunner, that feeing we had
travelled now 1 4 Days without Intermiilion, and
that we had Water here for our Refreihment,
and no Want of Food yet, or any Fear of it^
we ihould reft our People a little, and fee at
the fame time, if perhaps we might kill fome
Creatures that were proper for Food. The Gun-
ner, who had more Forecaft of that kind, than
I had, agreed to the Propofal, and added, why
might we^ not try to catch fome Fiih out of the
Lake? The firfl: thing we had before us, was
to try if we could make any Hooks, and this
indeed put our Artificer to his Trumps ^ how-
ever, with fome Labour and Difficulty he did it,
and we catched frefh Fifh of feveral kinds. How
they came there, none but he that made the
Late, and all the World, k^ows, for to be fure
no
no human Hands ever put any in there, or
pulled any out before.
We not only catched enough for our prefent
Refrefhment, but we dried feveral large Fiihes
of Kinds which I cannot defcribe, in the Sun,
by which we lengrhen'd out our Provifion con-
fiderably ^ for the Heat of the Sun dried them
fo effe£cually without Salt, that they were per-
fedly cured dry and hard in one Day's time.
We reded our felves here five Days, during
which time we had Abundance of pleafant Ad-
ventures with the wild Creatures, t©o many to
relate: One of them was very particular, which
was a Chafe between a She Lion, or Lionefs, and
a large Deer^ and tho' the Deer is naturally
a very nimble Creature, and ihe flew by us like
the Wind, having perhaps about 30*0 Yards
the Start of the Lion, yet we found the Lion
by her Strength, and the Goodnefs of her Lungs,
got Ground of her. They paft by us within
about a Quarter of a Mile, and we had a View
of them a great Way, when heaving given them
over, we were furprized about an Hour after, to
fee them come thundering back again on the
other Side of us, and then the Lion was within
30 or 40 Yards of her, and both draining to the
Extremity of their Speed, when the Deer com-
ing to the Lake, plunged into the Water, ancj
fwam for her* Life, as fhe had before run for it.
The Lionefs plunged in fifter her, and fwam a
little way, but came back again -^ and when ihe
was got upon* the Land, ihe fet up the mofl
hideous Roar that" ever I heard in my Life as
if done in the Rage of having loft her Prey. '
We walked out Morning and Evening conftantly-
the Middle of the Day we refreihed our felves under
I 2 our
(ii6)
our Tent^ but one Morning early we faw another
Chafe, which more nearly concern'd us than the
other-, for our Black Prince, walking by the
Side of the Lake, was fet upon by a vaft great
Crocodile, which came out of the Lake upon
him ^ andtho' he was very light ofFoot, yetit
was as much as he could do to get away : He
fled amain to us^ and the Truth is, we did not
know what to do, for we were told no Bullet
would enter her ^ and we found it lb at flrft, for
tho' threeof our Men fired at her, yetihedid
not mind them^ but my Friend the Gunner,
a ventrous Fellow, of a bold Heart, and great
Prelence of Mind, went up lb near as to thruft
the Muzzle of his Piece into her Mouth, and
fired but let his Piece fall, and run for it the
very Moment he had fired it : The Creature raged
a great while, and fpent its Fury upon the Gun,
making Marks upon the very Iron with her
Teeth, but after fome time fainted and died*
Our Negroes fpread the Banks of the Lake
all this while, for Game, and at length killed
us three Deer, one of them very large, the other
two very fmall. There was Water-Fovv 1 alfo in the
Lake, but we never came near enough to them
to fhoot any -^ and, as for the Delart, we law no
Fowls any where in it, but at the Lake.
We likewife killed two or three Civet Cats, but
their Flefh is the word of Carrion •, we faw
Abundance of Elephants at a Diftance, and ob-
.ferved, that they always go in very good Com-
pany, that is to fay, Abundance of them to-
gether, and always extended in a fair Line of
Battle *, and this,' they fay, is the way they de-
fend themfelves from their Enemies^ for if
Lions or Tygers, Wolves or any Creatures, at-
tack
tack them, they being drawn up m a Lme,
ibmetimes reaching R^e or fix Miles in Length,
whatever comes iji their Way is fure to be trod
under Foot, vpr beaten in Pieces with their
Trunks, or lifted up in the Air with their
Trunks •, fo that if a hundred Lions or Ty gers were
coming along, if they meeta Line of Elephants,
they will always fly back till they fee Room
to pafs by to the Right Hand or to the Left^
and if they did not, it would be impoffible for
one of them to efcape •, for the Elephant, tho'
a heavy Creature, is yet fo dexterous and nim-
ble with his Trunk, that he will not fail to lift
up the heavieft Lion, or any other wild Creature,
and throw him up in the Air quite over his Back,
and then trample him to Death with his Feet,
We law feveral Lines of Battle thus, we faw
one fo long, that indeed there was no End of it
to be feen, aud, I believe, their might be 2000
Elephants in a Row, or Line. They are not
Beafts of Prey, but live upon the Herbage of
the Field, as an Ox does, and, it is faid, that
tho' they are fo great a Creature, yet that a
fmaller Quantity of Forage fupplies one of them,
than will fuffice a Horfe.
The Numbers of this kind of Creature that
are in thofe Parts are inconceivable, as may be
gather'd from the prodigious Quantity of Teeth,
which as I faid we faw in this vaft Defart, and
indeed we faw a 100 of them to one of any
other Kinds.
One Evening we were very much flirprized;
we were moft of us laid down upon our Mates to
Sleep, when our Watch came running in among
us, being frighted with the fudden Roaring ot
Some Lions jiift by them, which it feems they^
'^^ • ^ I 3 jiai
had not feen, the Kight being dark, till they
werejuil: upon them. There was, as it proved,
an old Lion and his whole Family, for there was
the L ionefs and three young Lions, befides the
old King, who was a monftrous great one : One
of the young ones, who were good large well
grown ones too, leapt up upon one of our Kegroes,
who flood Centinel, before he faw him, at which
he was heartily frighted, cried out, and run
into the Tent: Our other Man, who had a
Gun, had not Prelence of Mind at firft to
fhoot him, but ftruck him with the But-End
of his Piece, which made him whine a little,
and then growl at him fearfully ^ but the Fellow
retired, and we being all alarmed, three of our
Men fnatched up their Guns, run to the Tent-
Door, where they faw the great old Lion by the
Fire of his Eyes, and firft fired at him, but,
we fuppofed, miiTed him, or at leaft. did not
kill him.-, for they went all off, but raifed a
nioft hideous Roar, which, as if they had called
for Help, brought down a prodigious Number
of Lions, and other furious Creatures, we know
not what about them, for we could not fee them ^
but their was a Noife and Yellms:, and Howling,
and all fort of liich Wildernefs Mufick on every
Side of us, as If all the Beafts of the Defart were
allembled to devour us.
We asked our Black Prince what we fliould
do with them? Me gOy fays he, fright them all\ fb
he fr atch^s up two or three of the worft of our
Matts, and, getting one of our Men to ftrike
fovciQ Fire, he hangs the Matt up at the End of
a Pole, and fet it on Fire, and it blazed abroad
a good while -, at which the Creatures all moved
oSy for we heard them roar, and make their
bellow-
bellowing Noife at a great Diftc^ce. Well, fays
our Gunner, if that will do, we need not burn
our Matt5, which are our Beds to lay under us,
and our Tilting to cover us. Let me alone, fays
he, fo he comes back into our Tent, and falls to
making fome artificial Fire-Works, and the like;
and he gave our Centinels fome to be ready at
Hand, upon Occafion, and particularly he placed
a great Piece of Wild-fire upon the fame Pole
that the Matt had been tied to, and fet it on
Fire, and that burnt there fo long, that all the
Wild Creatures left us for that time.
However, we began to be weary of fuch Com-
pany, and, to be rid of them, we fet forward
again two Days foonfer than we intended. We
found now, that tho' the Defart did not end,
nor could we fee any Appearance of- it, yet that
the Earth was pretty full of green Stuff, of one
fort or another, fo that our Cattle had no Want.
And fecondly, that there were leveral little
Rivers which run into the Lake, and fb long
as the Country continued low, we found Water
fulHcient, which eafed us very much in our
Carriage, and we went on yet fixteen Days more
without yet coming to any Appearance of better
Soil : After this we found the Country rife a little,
and by that we perceived, that the Water would
fail us, fb, for fear of the worfl:, we filled our
Bladder Bottles with Water ; we found the Coun-
try rifing gradually thus for three Days conti-
nually, when, on the fudden, we perceived, that
tho' we had mounted up infenfibly, yet that
we were on the Top of a very high ridge of Hills,
tho' not fuch as at firf^.
When we came to look down on the other Side
of the Hills we faw, to the great Joy of all our
I 4 Hearts,
( I20 )
Hearts, that the Defart was at an End; that
the Country was clothed witli Green, Abundance
of Trees, and a hirge River, and we made no
doubt but that we ftiould find People and Cat-
tel alfb; and here, by our Gunner's Account,
who kept our Computations, we had marched
above 400 Miles over thisdifmal Place of Hor-
rour, having been four and thirty Days a-doing of
it, and coniequently were come about 1 100 Miles
of our Journey.
We would willingly have defcended the Hill?
that !Night, but it was too late-, the next Morn-
ing we law every thing more plain, and refted
our lelves uader the Shade of fbme Trees ;
which were now the moft refrefhing things imagi-
nable to us, who had been fcorched above a
Month without a Tree to cover us. We found
the Country here very pleafant, efpecially con-
iidering that we came from, and we killed
ibme Deer here alio, which we found very fre-,
quent under the Cover of the Woods; alio we
killed a creature like a Goat, whofe Flelh was
very god to eat, but it was no Goat : We found
alio a great Number of Fowls like Partridge,
but Ibmething fmaller, and were very tame, fo
that we lived here very well, but found no Peo-
ple, at leall none that would be leen, no not lor
deveral Days Journey *, and, to alby our Joy, we
were almoft every Night dilfturbed with Lions
and Tygers; Elephants indeed we law none
here.
In three Days March we came to a River,
which we law from the Hills, and which we
called the Golden River, and we Ibund it run
Northward, which was the firft ijtream we had
met with that did fo j it run with a very rapid
Cur-
( lai )
current, and our Gunner pulling out his Map,
aiTured me that this was either the River Nilcy
or run into the great Lake \ out of which the
River Nile was faid to take its Beginning ^ and he
brought out his Carts and Maps, which by his /
Inftru^tion, I began to underftand very -"ell ;
and told me, he would convince me of i.,, and
indeed he Teemed to make it fo plain to me, that
I was of the lame Opinion.
But I did not enter into the Gunner's Reaibn
for this Enquiry, not in the leaft, till he went
on with it farther, and flated it thus-, if
this is the River Niley why fhould not we build
Ibme more Canoes, and go down this Stream rather
than to expofe our felves to any more Delarts
and Icorching Sands, in Queft of the Sea, which
when we are come to, we ihall be as much
at a Lofs how to get home as we were at
/iiadagafcar*
The Argument was good, had there been no
Objeftions in the Way, of a Kind which nore
of us were capable of anfwering ^ but upon the
whole it was an Undertaking of fuch a Nature,
that every one of us thought it imprafticable,
and that upon leveral Accounts-, and our Surgeon,
who was himfelf a good Scholar, and a Man of
Reading, tho' not acquainted with the Buiinefs
of Sailing, oppoled if, and Ibme of his Reafons,
I remember, were fuch as thefe; firft, the Length
of the Way, which both he and the Gunner al*
lowed by the Courfe of the Water and Turnings
of the River, would be at ieaft 4000 Miles. Se-
condly, The innumerable Crocodiles in the
River, \yhich we ihould never be able to elcape.
Thirdly, The dreadful Defarts in the Way:^
andlaftly,the approaching rainy Seafon, in which
the
( 122 ;
the Streams of the Nile would be fb furious, and
rife fo high, fpreading far and wide over all
the plain Country, that we (liould never be able
to know when we were in the Channel of the
River, and when not, and fhould certainly be caft
away over-fet, or run a-ground fo often, that it
wc be impoifible to prooeed by a River fo
exce.'ixv'ely dangerous.
This laft Reafon he made fb plain to us, that
we began to be ic) fenfible of it our felves-, ib that
we agreed f o lay that Thought afide, and proceed
m our firft Courie Weftward towards the Sea :
But as if we had been loath to depart, we conti-
nued, by way of refrefhing our felves, to loy-
ter two Days upon this River, in which time
our Black Prince, who delighted much in wan-
dering up and down, came one Evening and
brought us ' feveral little Bits of Ibmething, he
knew not what ^ but he found it felt heavy, and
looked well, and ihewed it to me, as what he
thought was Ibme Rarity. I took not much
Notice of it to him, but ftepping out, and call-
ing the Gunner to me, I fhewed it him, and told
him what i thought, viz., that it was certain-
ly Gold: He agreed with me in that, and alfb
in what foUow'd, that we would take the Black
Prince out v/ith us the next Day, and make him
fhew us where he found it, that if there was any
Quantity to be found, we would tell our Com-
pany of it, but if there was but little, we would
keep Counfel, and have it to our felves.
But we forgot to engage the Prince in the
Secret, who innocently told fo much to all the
reft, as that they gueffed what it was, and came
to us to fee ^ when we found it was publick, we
were more concerned to prevent their fufpeft-
hig
( in )
ing that we had any Defign to conceal it, and
openly telling; our Thoughts of it, we called our
Artificer, who agreed prefently that it was Gold;
fo I propofed, that we fliould all go with the .
Prince to the Place where he found it, and if any
Quantity was to he had, we would lye here fbme
time, and fee what we could make of it.
Accordingly, we went esrery Man of us, for no
Man was willing to be left behind in a Difcove-
ry of fuch a Nature. When we came to the
Place, we found it was on the Weft Side of the
River, not in the main River, but in another fmall
River or Stream which came from the Weft, and
run into the other River at that Place. We fell
to raking in the Sand, and waihing it in our
Hands, and we feldom took up a Handful of Sand,
but we wafhed fome little round Lumps as big as
Ji Pin's Head, or fometimes as big as aGrapeftone,
into our Hands, and we found in two or three
Hours time, that every one had got fbme, fb
we agreed to leave off, and go to Dinner.
While we were eating, it came into my
Thoughts, that while we work'd at this Rate in
a thing of fuch Nicety and Confequence, it was
ten to one if the Gold, which was the Mah^
halt of the World, did not fir ft or laft fet us
together by the Ears to break our good Arti-
cles and our Underftanding one among another,
and perhaps caufe us to part Companies, or
worfe ^ I therefore told them, that I was indeed
the youngeft Man of the Company, but as they
had always allowed me to give my Opinion in
things, and had fometimes been p leafed to follow
my Advice, fo I had fbmething to propofe now,
which! thought, would be for all our Advantage?,
and I believed they would all like it verv well. I
told
told them we were in a Country where we all
Icnew there was a great deal of Gold, and that
all the World fent Ships thither to get it ; that
we did not indeed know where it was, and fo we
might get a great deal, or a little, we did not
Icnow whether ^ but I offered it to them to con-
fider whether it would not be the beft Way for
us, and to preferve the good Harmony and
Friendfhip that had been always kept among
us, and which was fo abfolutely necefTary to our
Safety, that what we found ihould be brought
together to one common Stock, and be equally
divided at laft, rather than to run the Hazard of
any Difference which might happen among us,
from any one^s having found more or lefs than an-
other. I told them, that if we were all upon one
Bottom, we fliould all apply our felves heartily to
the Work, and befides that, we might then fet
our Negroes all to Work for us , and receive
equally the Fn;it of their Labour, and of our own,
and being all exaftly alike Sharers, there could
be no juft Caufe of Quarrel or Dilguft among us.
They all approved the Propofal, and every one
jointly fwore, and gave their Hands to one ano-
ther, that they would not conceal the leaft Grain
of Gold from the reft ; and confented, that if
any one or more fhould be found to conceal
any, all that he had fhould be taken from him,
and divided among the reft: And one thing
more was added to it by our Gunner, from Cpnfi-
derations equally good and juft ^ that if any one
of us, by any Play, Bett, Game, or Wager, won
any Money or Gold, or the Value of any from
another, during our whole Voyage till our Return
quite to Portugdy he fliould be obliged by us all
to reftore it again on the Penalty <ir being dif-
arm*d.
( 15=; )
arm'd, and tura'd out of the Company, and of
having no Relief from us on any Account what-
ibever. This was to prevent Wagering and Playing
for Money, which our Men were apt to do by fe-
veral Means, and at leveral Games, tho' they
had neither Cards or Dice.
Having made this wholefbm Agreement, w«
went chearfuUy to Work, and fhew'd our Ne-
groes how to work for us ^ and working up the
Stream on both Sides, and in the Bottom of the
River, we fpent about three Weeks Time dab-
bling in the Water ^ by which time, as it lay all
in our Way, we hnd gone about fix Miles, and
not more, and ftiil the higher we went, the
more Gold we found \ till at laft, having pafs'd by
the Side of a Hill, we perceived on a fudden,
that the Gold ftoppM, and that there was not a
Bit taken up beyond that Place ^ it prefently oc-
curr'd to my Mind, that it muft then be from
the Side of that little Hill that all the Gold we
found was work'd down.
Upon this, we went back to the Hill, and fell
to Work with that. We found the Earth loole^
and of a yellowtflx loamy Colour, and in fome
Places, a white hard Kind of Stone, which in
defcribing lince to fbme of our Artifts, they tell
me was the Spar which is found by the Oar, and
furrounds it in the Mine. However, if it had
been all Gold, we had no Inftrument to force it
out \ ^o we paffed that: But fcratching into the
loole Earth with our Fingers, we came to a fur-
prizing Place, where the Earth for th- Quantity of
two Bufhels, I believe, or thereabouts, crumbled
down with little more than touching it, and ap-
parently fhewed us that there was a ^reat deal of
Gold in it. We took it all carefully up, and
warning
wafliing It in the Water, the loamy Earth wafh'd
away, and left the Gold Duft free in our Hands^
I and that which was more remarkable, was, that
;' when this loofe Earth was all taken away, and we
came to the Rock or hard Stone, there was not
one Grain of Gold more to be found. ""
At Nie^ht we came all together to fee what we
had got, and it appeared we had found in that
Day's Reap of Earth, about Seven and Fifty
Pound Weight of Gold Duft, and about Thirty
Four Pound more in all the reft of our Works
in the River.
It was a happy Kind of Difappointment to us,
that we found a full Stop put to our Work 9
for had the Qu^antity of Gold been ever fb fmall,
yet had any at all come, I do not know when we
ihould have given over ; for having rummaged this
Place, and not finding the leaft Grain of Gold in
any other Place, or in any of tiie Earth there,
except in that loofe Parcel, we went quite back
down the frnall River again, working it over and
over agait], as long as we could find any thing
how frnall Ibever ; and we did get fix or feven
Pound more the fecond time. Then we went
into the firfi River, and tried it up the Stream
and down the Stream, on the one Side and on the
other. Up the, Stream we found nothing, no not
a Grain ;, down the Stream we found very little,
not above the Quantity of Half an Ounce in two
Miles working -^ fb back we came again to the
Golden River, as we juflly called it, and work'd
it up the Stream and down the Stream twice more
a-piece, and every time we found Ibme Gold, and
perhaps might have done fb, if we had flay'd
there. till this time •, but the Quantity was at laft
fo linall, and the Work fo much the harder,
that
( 1^7 ).
that wc agreed by Confent to give it ov^r, left we
fhould fatigue our felves and our Negroes fo,
as to be quite unfit for our Journey. When we
had brought all our Purchafe together, we had in
the whole three Pound and a Half of Gold lo
a Man, Share and Share alike, according to fuch
a Weight and Scale as our ingenious Cutler made
for us to weigh it by, which he did indeed by
guefs, but which, as he laid he was fure wa3 ra-
ther more than lefs, and fb it prov'd at lafi •, for
it was near two Ounces more than Weight in a
Pound. Befides this, there was feven or eight
Pound Weight left, which we agreed to leave in
his Hands, to work it into fuch Shapes as we
thought fit to give away to fuch People as we
might yet meet with, from whom we might have
Occafion to buy Proviiions, or even to buy Friend-
ihip, or the like *, and particularly we gave about
a Pound to our Black Prince, which he hammer'd
and work'd by his own indefatigable Hand, and
fome Tools our Artificer lent him, into little
round Bits, as round almoft as Beads, tho' not
exad in Shape, and drilling Holes thro' them,
put them all upon a String, and wore them about
his black Neck, and they look'd very well there
I affure you ^ but he was many Months a-doing it.
And thus ended om* firft Golden Adventure.
We now began to difcover what we had not
troubled our Heads much about before; and that
was, that let the Country be good or bad that
we were in, we could not travel much farther, for '
a confiderabletime. We had been now five Months
and upwards in our Journey, and the Seafbn
began to change •, and Nature told us, that being
in a Climate that had a Winter as well as a Sum-
mer, tho' of a differing Kind from what our own
Coun-
(,.8)
Country j^^oduced, we were to expeO: a wet Sea-*
fon, and luch as we fhould not be able to travel hy
as well by reafon of the Rain it felf, as of the
Floods which it would occafion wherever we
ihould come ^ and tho' we had been no Stran-
gers to thofe wet Seafbns in the Ifland of Mada^
gafcary yet we had not thought much of them
fince we begun our Travels • for letting out when
the Sun was about the Solftice, that is, when it
was at the greateft Northern Diftance from us,
we had found the Benefit of it in our Travels.
But now it drew near us apace, and we found
it began to rain^ upon which we called ano-
ther General Council, in which we debated
our prelent Circumftances, and in particular^
whether we fhould go forward, or feek for a pra-
per Place upon the Bank of our Golden River,
which had been fb lucky to us to fix our Camp
for the Winter.
Upon the whole, it was relblved to abide where
we were ; and it was not the leaft Part of our
Happinefs that we did fb, as fhall appear in its
Place.
Having refolved upon this, our firfl: Meafures
were to let our Negroes to Work, to make H\^tts
or Houies for our Habitation ^ and this they did
very dexteroufly ; only that we changed the
Ground where we had at firfl intended it, think-
ing, as indeed it happenM, that the river might
reach it upon any fudden Rain. Our Camp was
like a little Town, in which ourHutts were in
the Center, having one large one in the Center of
them alio, into which all our particular Lodgings
opened •, lb that none of us went into our Apart-
ments, but thro' a publick Tent wh^re we all eat
and drank together, and kept our Councils and
Socie-
( 1^9 ;
Society, and our Carpenters made us Tables,
Benches, and Stools in Abundance, as many as
we could make ufe of.
We had no Need of Chimneys, it was hot
enough without Fire^ but yet we found our felves
at laft obligM to keep a Fire ev^ery Night upon , \
a particular Occafion : For tho' we had in all /
other Refpe^ts a very pleafant and agreeable Sci-
tuation, yet we were rather worfe troubled with
the unwelcome Vifits of wild Beafts here, than in
the Wildernefs it lelf ^ for as the Deer, and other
gentle Creatures came hither for Shelter and
Food, fb the Lions, and Tigers, and Leopards,
haunted thefe Places continually for Prey.
When firft we difcovered this, we were fo
une'afy at it, that we thought of removing out
Scituation •, but after many Debates about it, we
refblved to fortify our lelves in fuch a Manner, as
not to be in any Danger from it ; and this our
Carpenters undertook, who firft palifadoed our 2/
Camp quite round with long Stakes (for we had ^'^'^
Wood enough) which Stakes were not fluck in
one by another like Pales, but. in an iireg::Ir.r
Manner ^ a great Multitude of them fo placed,
that they took up near two Yards in Thicknefs,
fc)me higher, ibme lower, all fharpened at the
Top, and about a Foot afunder ^ fo that had
any Creature jump'd at them, unlefs he had gone
clean over, which it was very hard to do, he
would be hung upon twenty or thirty Spikes.
The Entrance into this, had larger Stakes than
the reft, placed fb before one another, as to make
three or four ihort Turnings, which no four-
footed Beaft bigger than a Dog could poiTibly
come in at ; and that we might not be attack'd
by any Multitude together, and confequently be
K alarm'd
abrm'd in our Sleep, as we had been, or be
obliiiVl to wafte our Ammunition, which we
were very chary of, we kept a great Fire every
Kicht without the Entrance of our Palifade, ha-
ving a Hutt for our two Centinels to ftand in
free from the Rain, juft within the Entrance, and
right agaiiift the Fire.
To maintain this Fire, we cut a prodigious
deal of Wood, and piled it upon a Heap to dry,
and with the green Boughs made a fecond Co-
vering over our Hutts, fo high and thick, that
it might cafl the Rain off from the firft, and keep
us efteftually dry.
We had fcarce finiilied all thefe^Vorks, but
that the Rain came on fo fierce, and fo conti-
rued, tliat we had little time to ftir abroad for
F'^^d^ except indeed that our Negroes, who wore
no Clothes, feem'd to make nothing of the Rain,
tho' to us Europeans in thofe hot Climates, nothing
is more dangerous.
We continued in this Pofture for four Months,;
that is, from the Middle of June to the Middle
Ot OStoher ; for tho' the Rains went off, at leaft
the greateft Violence of them, about the Equinox^
yet as the Sun was then juft over our Heads, we
refolved to toy a while till it was pafs'd us a little
to the Southward.
During our Encampment here, we had feveral
Adventures with the ravenous Creatures of that
Country, and had not our Fire been always
kept burning, 1 queftion much whether all our
Fence, tho'w? ftrengthen'd it afterwards with
twelve or fourteen Rows of Stakes more, would
have kept us fecure. It was always in the Night
that we had the Difturbance of them, and fome-
times they came in fuch Multitudes, that we
thought
thought all the Lions, and Tigers, and Leopards,
and Wolves of Africa were come together to at-
tack us. One Night being clear Moonfliine, one
of our Men being upon the Watch, told us, he
verily believed he faw Ten l^houfand wild Crea-
tures of one Sort or another, pafs by our little
Camp •, and ever as they faw the Fire, they flieer'd
off, but were fure to howl or roar^ or whatever
it was, when they were paft.
The Mufick of their Voices was very far from
being pleafant to us, and fonetimes would be fo
very difturbing, that we could not deep for it ;
and often our Centinels would call us, that were
awake to come and look at them. It was one windy
tempeftuous Night after a very rainy Day, that
we were indeed all called up •, for fuch innume-
rable Numbers of Devilifh Creatures came about
us, that our Watch really thought they would
attack us. They would not come on the Side
where the Fire was *, and tho' we thought our
felves fecure every where elfe, yet we all got up,
and took to our Arms. The Moon was near the
Full, but the Air full of flying Clouds, and a
ilrange Hurricane of Wind to add to the Terror
of the Night ^ when looking on the Back Part
of our Camp, I thought I fiw a Creature with-
in our Fortification, and ^o indeed he was, except
his Haunches ^ for he had taken a running Leap,
I fuppofe, and with ^\\ h^'s Might had thrown
himfelf clear over our Palifadoes, except one
ftrong Pile which ftood higher than the reft, and
which had caught hold of him, and by his Weight
he had hang'd himfelf upon it, the Spike of the
Pile running into his Hinder-Haunch or Thigh,
on the Infide, and by that he hung growling and
biting the Wood for Rage. ^ I faatcht up a Lance
K ' 2 from
( '30
from one of the Negroes thiit flood juft by me^
nnd runnini^ to him, flruck it three or four Times
into him, and difpatch'd him ^ being unwilling to
flioot, becaufe I had a Mind to have a Volley fired
among the reft, whom I could fee ftanding with-
out as thick as a Drove of Bullocks goijg to a
Fair. I immediately culled our People out, and
fhewed them the Obje^ of Terror which I had
jfeen, and without any farther Confultation, fired
a full Volley among them, moft of our Pieces
being loaden with two or three Sluggs or Bullets
a-piece. It made a horrible Clutter among them,
and in general they all took to their Heels, on-
ly, that we could obferve, that Ibme walk'd off
with more Gravity and P^ajefty than others, be-
ing not fo much frighted at the Noife and Fire*,
and we could perceive that fbme were left upon
the Ground ftruggling as for Life, but we durft
not ftir out to fee what they were.
Indeed they ftood ib thick, and were fo near
us, that we could i]ot well mifs killing or woun-
ding fome of them, and we believe they had cer-
tainly the Smell of us, and of our Victuals we had
been killing-, for we had killed a Deer, and three
or four of thofe Creatures like Goats, the Day
before :; and fome of the Offal had been thrown
out behind our Camp, and this we fuppofe drew
them lb much about us *, but we avoided it for
the future.
Tho' die Creatures fled, yet we heard a fright-
ful Roaring all Kight at the Place where th'ey
flood, which we fuppofed was from fome that
were wounded^ and as foon as Day came, we went
cut to fee what Execution we had done, and,
indeed, it was a ftrange Sight ♦, there were three
Tygers and two Wolres quite killed, befides
the
( ^3? ;
the Creature I had killed within onr PalifadOj,
which feem'd to be of an ill-gendered kind, between
a Tyger and a Leopard. Befides this, there was a
noble old Lion alive, but with both his Fore Legs
broke, fo that he could not ftir away, and he
had almoft beat himfelf to Death with ftrugg-
ling all Kight-, and we found, that this was the
wounded Soldier that had roared lb loud, and
given us fo much Difturbance : Our Surgeon, y
looking at hiin, fmiled •, Now, fays he, if I could •
be fure this Lion would ha as grateful to me,
as one of his Majefty's Anceftors was to Aridronl-' /
cus the Roman Shi^t^ I would certainly fet both ^
fiiFl^egs again, and cure him. I had not heard
the Story of Andromcus^ fo he told it me at large;
but as to the Surgeon, we told him, he had
no Way to know whether the Lion would do lb
or not, but to cure him firll, and truft to his
Honour •, but he had no Faith ^ ib^ to dilpatch
him, and put him out of his Torment, he fhot
him into the Head, and killed him, for which we /
called Rim the King-Killer ever after.
. Our Negroes found no lefs than five of tho^Q
ravenous Creatures wounded and dropt at a
Diftance from our Quarters \ whereof, one was
a Wolf, one a fine fpotted young Leopard, and
the other were Creatures that we knew not what /
to call them.
We had leveral more of thefe Gentle-foiks
about us after that, but no fuch'general Rendezvous
of them as that was, any more ^ but this ill Eife8:
it had to us, that it frighted the Deer and
other Creatures from our Neighbourhood, of
whole Company we were much more defirous,
2jid who were necelTary for our Subfifcence ;
Hpweverj our Negroes went out every Day a-
H ? Hunting
Hunting, as they called it, with Bow and Arrow,
and tiiey Icarce ever failed of bringing us home
Something or other-, and particularly we found
in this Part of the Country, after the Rains had
fallen forae time. Abundance of Wild-fowl, fuch
as we have in England -^ Duck, Teal, Widgeon,
&c. rome Geefe, and fome Kinds that we had
never feen before, and we frequently killed them.
Alio we catched a great Deal of frelh Fifh out
of the River, fo that we wanted no Provifion;
if we wanted any thing, it was Salt to eat with
our frefji Meat, but we had a little left, and we
uied it fparingly ^ for, as to our Negroes, they
would nottafte it, nor did they care to eat any
Meat that was fealbned with it.
T'he Weather began now to clear up, the Rains
were down, and the Floods abated, and the Sun,
wiiich had pafTed our Zenith, was gone to the
Southward a good Way, fo we prepared to go
on of our Way.
It was the 1 2th, of Oclober or thereabouts, thafc
we began to let forward, and having an eafy
Country to travel in, as well as to fupply us with
Provifions, tho' ftill without Inhabitants, we
made more Diipatch, travelling fome times, as we
calculated it 20 or 25 Miles a Day- nor did we
halt any were in eleven Days March, one Day
excepted, which was to make a Raft to carry
us over a fmall River, which having fwelled
with the Rains was not yet quite down.
When we were pail: this River, which by the
\ Way run to the Northward too, we found a great
Row of Hills in our Way •, we faw indeed the
Country open to the Right at a great Diftance,
but as we kept true to our Courfe due Weft, we
were not willing to go a great Way out of our
• Way,
Way, only to fhun a few Hills-, fo we advanced;
but we were furprized, when being not quite come
to the Top, one of our Company who with two
Negroes was got up before us, cry'd out the Seal
the Sea! and fell a-dancing and jumping as Signs
of Joy.
The Gunner and I were moft furprized at it,
becaufe we had but that Morning been calcu-
lating, that we muft have yet above a looo MiJe^
to the Sea-fide, and that we could not exped to
reach it till an other rainy Seafbn would be
upon us, Co that when our Man cry'd- out the
Sea, the Gunner was angry, and faid he was
mad.
But we were both in the greateft Surprize imngi-
nable, when coming to the Top of the Hill, and
tho' it was very high, we faw nothing but Water,
either before us, or to the right Hand or the
left, being a vaft Sea without any Bound but the
Horizon.
We went down the Hill full of Confufion of
Thought, not being able to conceive where-
abouts we were, or what it mufl be, feeing by
all our Charts the Sea was yet a vaft Way oif.
It was not above three Miles from the Kill:'
before we came to the Shore, or Water-edge
of this Sea^ and there, to our further Surprize,
we found the Water frefh and pleafant to drink;,
fb that in fhort we knew not what Courfe to
take : The Sea, as we thought it to be, put a
full ftop to our Journey, (I mean Weft ward) for
it lay juft in the Way. Our next Queftion was
which Hand to turn to, to the Right or the
Left, but this was fbon refblved •, for as we
knew not the Extent of it, we confidered that
our Way, if it had been the Sea really , muft be to
K 4 th«
/
the Korth', and therefore, it we went to the
South now J it miift be juft fo much out of ourWay
at laft : So having fpent a good Part of the Day
in our Surprize at the Thing, and confulting what
to do, we let forward to the North.
We travelled upon the Shore of this Sea full
23 Days, before we could come to any Refolu-
tion about what it was ♦, at the End of which,
early one Morning, one of our Seamen cried
out Land, and it was no falfe Alarm, for we faw
plainly the Tops of fbme Hills at a very great
Diftance, on the further Side of the Water, due
Weft;, but tho' this farisfied us that it was
not tlie Sea, but an Inland Sea or Lake, yet
we fliw no Land to the Northward, that is fo fay,
no End of it*, but were obliged to travel eight
Days more, and near a too Miles further, before
we came to the End of it, and then we found
this Lake or Sea ended in a very great River,
which run N. or N. by E. as the other River had
done, which I mentioned before.
My Friend the Gunner, upon examining, faid,
that he believed that he was ip^ftaken before,
and that this was the R'ver Nile^ but was ftill
of the Mind, that we were of before, that we
fhouldno^ think of a Voyage into Egy^t that Way ^
fb we refblved upon crolling this River, which
however was not fo eafy as before, the River
being very rapid, and the'Channel very broad.
It coft us therefore a Week here to get Mate-
rials to waft our felves and Cattel over this
River ^ for tho' here were Store of Trees, yet
there were none of any confiderable Growth,
fuificient to make a Canoe.
During our March on the Edge of this Bank,'
we met with great Fatigue, and therefore tra-
veil'd
(•37)
veird fewer Miles in a Day than before, there
being fuch a prodigious Number of little Rivers
that came down from the Hills on the Eall: Side,
emptying themle Ives into this Gulph, all which
Waters were pretty high, the Rains having
been but newly over.
In the laft three Days of our Travel we met
with fome Inhabitants, but we found they lived
upon the little Hills, and not by the Water Side:^
nor were we a little put to it for Food in this
March, having kUled nothing for four or five
Days, but fome Fiih we caught out of the L,ake,
and that not in fuch Plenty as we found before.
But to make us fome amends, we had no Diftur-
bance upon all the Shore of this Lake, from any
wild Beafts ;, the only Inconveniency of that Kind
was, that we met an ugly, venemous, deformed
kind of a Snake or Serpent in the wet Grounds
near the Lake, that leveral times purfued us, as if
it would attack us^ and if we ftruck at, or threw
any thing at it, would raife it felf up, and hifs
as loud it m'ght be heard a great Way ^ it had
a hellifh, ugly, deformed Look and Voice, and
our Men would not be perfwaded but it was the
Devil, only that we did not know what Bufinefs
Satan could have there, where there were no
People.
It was very remarkable that we had nov/ tra-
velled a I GOO Miles without meedng with any
People, in the Heart of the whole Continent
of Africa^ where to be fure never Man fet his
Foot fmce the Sons of iV^?^/? fpread them-
ielves over the Face of the whole Earth -^ here
alfo our Gunner took an Obfervation with his
Foreftaff to determine pur Latitude, and he
found now, that haying marched about 33 Days
Korth--
Korthward, we were in 6 Degrees 22 Minutcj
South Latitude.
After having with great Difficulty got over
this River, we came into a ftrange wild Country,
that began a little to affright us ^ for tho' the
Country was not a Defart of dry fcalding Sand,
as that was we had palled before, yet it was
mountainous, barren and infinitely full of moft
fiirious wild Beafts, more than any Place we had
paft yet. There was indeed a kind of coarfe
Herbage on the Surface, ' and now and then a
few Trees or rather Shrubs-, but People we
could fee none, and we began to be in great
Sufpenle about Victuals ^ for we had not killed
a Deer a great while, but had lived chiefly upon
Fiih and Fowl alway by the Water Side, both
which feemed to fail us now ^ and we were in the
more Confternation, becaule we could not lay in
a Stock here to proceed upon, as we did before, but
were obliged to fet out with Scarcity, and with-
out any Certainty of a Supply.
We had however no Remedy but Patience ^
and having killed fome Fowls, and dried fbme
Fifh, as much as with fhort Allowance we reckon-
ed would laft us five Days, we relblved to ven-
ture, and venture we did ; nor was it without
Caufe that we were apprehenfive of the Dan-
ger, for we travelled the ^^^e Days, and met
meither with Fifh, or Fowl, or four-footed Beaft
whofe Flefli was fit to eat ^ and we were in a
moft dreadful Apprehenfion of being famiihed
to Death •, on the fixth Day we almoft fafted,
or, as we may fay, we eat up all the Scraps of
what we had left, and at Might lay down fup-
perlefs upon our Matts with heavy Hearts, be-
ing obliged the eighth Day to kill one of our
poor
( 139 )
poor faithful Servants the Buffloes, that carry'd
our Baggage % the fkfli of this Creature was very
good, and i^o fparingly did we eat of it, that it
lafled us all three Days and a half, and was juft
fpent •, and we were upon the point of killing
another, when we Huv before us a Country that
promiied better, having high Trees and a large
River in the middle of it.
This encouraged us, and we quicken'd our
March for the River Side, tho' with empty Sto-
machs, and very faint and weak •, but before
we came to this River we had the good Hap to
meet with fome young Deer, a Thing v/e had
long wijfhed for. In a Word, having ihot three /
of them, we came to a full Stop to fill our Bellies^
and never gave the Flefh time to coo-I before we
eat it ; nay 'twas much we could ftay to kill it,
and had not eaten it alive, for we were in ihort /
almoft famiihed.
Through all that unhofpitable Country we faw
continually Lions, Tygers, Leopards, Civet Cat?,
and Abundance of Kinds of Creatures that we
did not underftand •, we faw no Elephants, but
every now and then we met with an Elephant'?
Tooth lying on the Ground, and fome of them
lying as it were half buried by the Length of
Time that they had lain there. *
When we came to the Shore of this River,
'we found it run Northerly ftill, as all the reft
had done, but with this Difference, that as the
Courfe of the other Rivers were N. by E. or
, K. N. E. the Courfe of this lay N. N.'W.
'4 On the farther Bank of this River we law
Jbme Si^ of Inhabitants, but met with none
for the firft Day ^ but the next Day we came
into an Inhabited Country, the People all Ne-
groes
( HO )
groes, and ftark naked, without Shame, both
Men and Women.
We made Signs of Friendihip to them, and
found them a very frank, civil, and friendly Ibrt
of People. They came to our Negroes without
any Sufpition, nor did they give us any Reafbn
to fufpeft them of any Villainy, as the others
had done; we made Signs to them that we
were hungry, and immediately fome naked
Women ran and fetched us great Quantities of
Roots, and of Things like Pumpkins, which
we made no Scruple to eat *, and our Artificer
iliewed them fome of his Trinkets that he had
made, fome of Iron, fome of Silver, but none
of Gold : They had fo much Judgment to chufe
that of Silver before the Iron, but when we
ihewed them fome Gold, we found they did not
value it fb much as either of the other.
For fome of thefe Things they brought us
more Provifions, and three living Creatures as
big as Calves, but not of that Kind •, neither did
we ever fee any of them before ; their Flefli was
very good; and after that they brought us
twelve more, and fome fmaller Creatures, like
Hares, all which were very welcom.e to us who
were indeed at a very great Lofs for Provifions.
We grew very intimate with thele People,
and indeed they were the civilleft and moft friend-
ly People that we met with at all, and mightily
pleafed with us ; and which was very particular, \
they were much eaiier to be made to underftand I
our Mean'ng, than any we had met with before. . ^
At laft, we began to enquire our Way, posit-
ing to the Weft, they made us underftand eafily
that we could not go that Way, hut they
pohited to us, that we might go North-Weft,
( H» )
fo that we prefently underftood that there was
another Lake in our Way, which proved to be
true*, for in two Days more we faw it plain, and
it held us till we paft the EquinoSiai Line,
lying all the Way on our left Hand, tho' at
a great Diftance.
Travelling thus Northward, our Gunner
feemed very anxious about our Proceedings *, for
he afTured us, and made me fenfible of it by
the Maps, which he had been teachinp; me out
of, that when we came into the Latitude of fix
Degrees, or thereabouts, North of the Line, the
Land trended away to the Weft, to fuch a Length,
that we ihouldnot come at the Sea under a March
of above 1 500 Miles farther Weftward than the
Country we deiired to go to. I asked him ir there
were no Navigable Rivers that we might meet
with, which running into the Weft Ocean, might
perhaps carry us down their Stream, and then if
it were 1 500 Miles, or twice 1 500 Miles, we might
do well enough, if we could but get Provifions.
Here he ihewed me the Maps again, and that
there appeared no River whofe Stream was of
any fuch Length as to do us any Kindnefs, till
we came perhaps within 2 or 300 Miles of the
Shore, except the Rio Grande^ as they call it,
which lay fiirther Northward from us, at leaft
700 Miles ^ and that then he knew not what
kind of Country it might carry us through^ for
he faid it was his Opinion, that the Heats oa
the North of the Line, even in the fame Latitude,
were violent, and the Country more delblate,
barren, and barbarous than thofe of the South ;
and that when we came among the Negroes in
the North Part of Africa^ next the Sea, elpe-
cially thofe who had. feen and trafficked with
the
( hO
the ZurofeanSy fuch as Dutch , Englijli^ Tortuguefe^
Spamards^ &c. thai: they had moft of them been fo
ah ufed at fome time or other, that they would
certainly put aU the Spight they could upon
us in meer Revenge.
Upon thefe Confiderations, he advifed us, that
as foon as we had pafTed this Lake, we ihould
proceed W. S. W. that is to fay, a little end ining
to the South, arid that in Time we fliould meet
] with the great River Congo^ from whence the
I Coaftis called Cnf?gOy being a little North of ^»-
' goUy where we intended at firft to go.
I asked him, if ever he had been on the Coaft
nf Congo ^ he faid yes he had, but was never on
Shore there : Then I asked him, how we ihould get
from thence to the Coaft where the European
Ships came, feeing if the Land trended away
Weft for T 500 Miles, we muft have all that Shore
to traverfe, before we could double the Weft
Point of it.
He told me, it was ten to one but we ihould
hear of Ibme European Ships to take ns in, for
that they often vifited the Coaft of Congo and
Angola^ in Trade with the Negroes •, and that if
we could not, yet, if we could but find Provi-
iions, we ihould make our Way as well along
the Sea-Shore, as along the River, till we came
to the Gold Coaft, which he faid was not above
4 or 500 Miles North of Congo^ befides the turn-
ing of the Coaft Weft about 300 more-, that
Shore being in the Latitude of fix or feven De-
gr^s, and that there the Englijh^ or Dutch^ or
Frefjch^ had Settlements or Fadories, perpaps all
of them.
p I confefs, I had more Mind all the while he ar-
gued, to bave gone Northward, and Shlpt our
lelves
( nn
felves in the Rio Grand^ or as the Traders call it,'
the River Negro or Niger ^ for I knew that at laft ,
it would bring us down to the Cafe de Verd^ \
where we were fure of Relief^ whereas at the ^
Coaft we were going to now, we had a prodigious
Way ftill to go, either by Sea or Land, and no
Certainty which way to get Provifions but by
Force; but for the prefent I held my Tongue,
becaufe it was my Tutor's Opinion.
But when, according to his Defire, we came
to turn Southward, having pafTed beyond the
lecond great Lake, our Men began all to be uneafy,
and faid, we were now out of our Way for cer-
tain, for that we were going farther from home,
and that we were indeed far enough off al-
ready.
But we had not marched above twelve Days
more, eight whereof was taken up in rounding
the Lake, and four more Southweft, in order to
make for the River Congo^ but we were put to a-
nother full Stop, by entring a Country fo defo-
late, fo frightful, and fb wild, that we knew not
what to think or do ; for belides that it appeared
as a terrible and boundlefs Defart, having neither
Woods, Trees, Rivers, or Inhabitants ; ^o even
the Place -where we were, was defolate of Inhabi-
tants, nor had we any Way to gather in a Stock
of Provifions for the paffing this Defart, as we
did before at our entring the firft, unlefs we had
marched back four Days to the Place where we
turned the Head of the Lake.
Well, notwithftanding this we ventured, for
to Men that had palled fuch wild Places as we
had done, nothing could feem. too defperate to i
undertake : We ventured I fay, and the ratherbe-
caufe we faw very high Mountains in our way at a
'great
( IH )
great Diftance, and we imagined, wherever there
was Mountains, there would be Springs and
Rivers, where Rivers, there would be Trees and
Graf?, where Trees and Grafs, there would be
Cattel, and where Cattel, fome Kind of Inha-
bitants.
At laft, in Conlequence of this fpeculative Phi-
lofophy, we entered this Waft, having a great
Heap of Roots and Plants for our Bread, fuch as
the Indians gave us, a very little Fleih, or Salt,
and but a little Water.
We travelled two Days towards thofe Hills,
and ftill they feemed as far off as they did at firft,
and it was the fifth Day before we got to them \
indeed we travelled but foftly, for it was excef-
iive hot, and we were much about the very
EquinoEhid Line, we hardly knew whether to the
South or the North of it.
As we had concluded that, where there were
Hills there would be Springs, fo it happened ^
but we were not only furprized, but really fright-
ed, to find the fir ft Spring we came to, and which
looked admirably clear and beautiful, be fait
as Brine : It was a terrible Difappointment to us,
and put us under melancholy Apprehenlions at
firft *, but the Gunner who was of a Spirit never
difcouraged, told us we fhould not be difturbed at
that, but be very thankful, for Salt was a Bait we
flood in as much Need of as any thing, and there
Avas no Queftion but we fliould find freih Water
as well as Salt^ and here our Surgeon fteps in
to encourage us, and told us, that if we did not
know, he would iliew us a Way how to make that
fait Water trefti, which indeed made us all more
chearful, the' we wondered what he meant.
Mean
Mean time our Men, without bidding, had
been leeking about for other Springs, and found
leverai, but ftill they were all fait •, from whence
we concluded, .that there was a file Rock or Mi-
neral Stone in thole Mountains, and perhaps they
might be all of fuch a Subftance :. But ftill I won-
dered by what Witchcraft it was that our Ar-
tifi: the Surgeon would make this fait Water
turn frefh, and 1 iong'd to fee the Experiment,
which was indeed a very odd one -^ but he went
to VA^ork with as much Alfurance, as if he had
try'd it on the very Spot before.
He took two of our large Matt^?, and fbw'd
them together, and they made a kind of a Bag
four Foot broad, three Foot and a Half high,
and about a Foot and a Half thick v/hen it was
full.
He caufed us to Rl\ this Bag with dry Sand,
and tread it down as clofe as we could, not to
burft the Matts. When thus the Bag was full
within a Foot, he fbuaht fbme other Earth, and
filled up the reft with it, and ftill trod it all in as
hard as he could. When he had done, he made
a Hole in the upper Earth, about as broad as the
Crown of a large Kar, or fbmething bigger about^
but not fo deep, and bad a Negroe fill it with
Water, and fiill as it fhrunk away, to fill it again,
and l<eep it full. The Bag he had placed at firft
crofs two Pieces o(^ Wood, about a Foot from the
Ground, and under it he ordered fbme of oiir
Skins to be fpread, that would hold Water. In
about an Pour, and not fooner, the Water began
to cnme dropping thro' the Bottom of the Bag,
and to our great Surprize, was pcrfcd freih and
fweet •, and this cont'nued for leveral Hours : But
in the End , the Water began to be a little'
L brackifu.
( h6)
bracln'fh. When we told him that, Well then,
Uld hcy turn the Sand out, and fill it again ^
whether lie did this by way of Experiment from
his own Fancy, or whether he had i^een it done
before, 1 do not remember.
The next Day we mounted the Tops of the
Hills, where the Profpe^t was indeed aflonifhiiig;
for as far as the Eye could look. South, or
Wefir, or North-Weft, there was nothing to be
feen but a vaft howling Wildernefs, with neither
Tree or River, or any green thing. The Surface
we found, as the Part we paiTed the Day before,
had a kind of thick Mofs upon it, of a blackifh
dead Colour, but nothing in it that look'd like
Food, either for Man or Beaft.
Had we been ftored with Provifions to have en-
tred for ten or twenty Days upon this Wilder-
nefs, ,as we were formerly, and with freih Water,
we had Hearts good enough to have ventured ;
tho' we h?A been obliged to come back again *, for
if we went Norths we did not know but we might
meet with the fame :, but we neither had Provifi-
ons, neither were we in any Place where it was
I pollibie to get them. We killed fome vv[M ferine
[ Creatures at the Foot of thefe Hills *, but except
' t\^^o things like to nothing that we ever iliw
before, we met with nothing that was fit to eat.
Thefe were Creatures that feemed to be between
the Kind of a Buffloe and a Deer, but indeed re-
femb'ed neither ^ for they had no Horns, and had
great Legs like a Cow, with a fine Head, and the
Neck like a Deer. We killed alfo at feveral times
a Tiger, two young Lions, and a Wolf, but, God
be thanked, we were not fo reduced as to eat
Carrion.
Upon
/ H7 )
Upon this terrible Profpe^ I renewM my Mo-
tion of turning Northward, and making towards
the River iV/^^r, or Rio Grand^ then to turn Weft
towards the EngUjlj Settlements on the GoldCoaft^
to which every one moil: readily conlented, only
our Gunner, who was indeed our beft Guide, tho'
he happen'd to be miftaken at this time. He mo-
ved, that as our Coaft was novo Northward, {o we
might flant away North Weft, that fo by croiling
the Country, we might perhaps meet with fbme
other River that run into the Rio Grand North-
ward, or down to the Gold Coaft Southward, and
fo both direct our Way, and ftiorten the Labour ;
as alfb, becaufe, if any of the Country was inha-
bited and fruitful, we fhould probably find it
upon the Shore of the Rivers, where alone we
could be furniihed with Provifions.
This was good Advice, and too rational not to
ie taken ^ but our preient Bufmefs was, what to
do to get out of this dreadful Place we were in •
behind us was a Waft, which had already coft as
live Days March, and we had not Provifions for
five Days left to go back again the fame- Way.
Before us was nothing but Horrour as above Co
we refolv'd, feeing the Ridge of Hills we were
upon had fbme Appearance of Fruitfulnefs and
that they leemed to lead away to the Northward
a great Way, to keep under the Foot of them
on the Eaft Side, to go on as far as we could
and in the mean time to look diligently out foe-
Food.
Accordingly we m.oved on the next Mornino: •
for we had no time to lofe, and to our i^reat Com-
.fort we came in our firft Morning's Marcli to ve-
ty good Springs of freih Water • and leaft we
ftiOuld have a Scarcity again, we nlled all ou-
L 2 _ . Blad-
( hM
Bladder Bottles, and carried it with us. I fliould
alfo have obferved, that our Surgeon who made
the fait Water freih, took the Opportunity of
thole lalt SprinG;s5 and made us the Quantity of
three or four Pecks of very good Salt.
In our third Ma'rch we found an unexpefl:ed
Supply of Food, the Hills behig full of Hares;
they were of a kind Ibmething different from
ours mEnglandy larger, and not fo fwift of Foot,
but very good Meat. We fliot feveral of them,
and the little tame Leopard, which I told you we
took at the Negroe Town that we plundered, hun-
ted them like a Dog, and killed us feveral every
Day;, but ilie would eat nothing of them unlefs we
gave it her, which indeed in our Circumftance
was very obliging. We fa 1 ted them a little, and
dried them in the Sun whole, and carry 'd a ftrange
Parcel along with us, I think it was almofl: three
Hundred -^ for we did not know when we might
find any more, either of thefe, or any other Food.
We continued our Courfe under thefe Hills very
comfortably eight or nine Days, when we found
to our great Satisfa^iion, the Country beyond us
began to look with fomething a better Counte-
nance. As for the Weft Side of the Hills, we
never examined it till this Day, when three of our
Company, the reft halting for Refreihment,
mounted the Hills again to fatis fy their Curi-
ofity, but found it all the fame •, nor could they
fee any End of it, no not to the North, the Way
we were going; fo the tenth Day finding the Hills-
made a Turn, and led as it were into the vaft De-
lart, we left them, and continued our Courfe
North; the Country being very tolerably full of
Wood^, fomeWaft, but not tediouilv long; till
we came, by our Gunner's Obfervation, into the
Lati-
( H9 )
Latitude of 8 Degrees, 5 Minutes, which we
jwere nineteen Days more a performing.
All this Way we found no Inhabitants, Abun-
dance of wild ravenous Creatures, with whom
we became fo well acquainted now, that really
we did not much mind them. We faw Lions
and Tigers, and Leopards every Night and Mor-
ning in Abundance ^ but as they feldom came
near us, we let them go about their Bufmefs -^^ if
they offer'd to come near us, we made falfe Fire
with any Gun that was uncharged, and they
would walk off as foon as they faw the Flafl-t.
We made pretty good Shift for Food all this
Way •, for fometimes we killed Hares, fometimes
fome Fowls, but for my Life I cannot give Names
to any of them, except a kind of Partridge, and
another that was like our Turtles. Now and then
we began to meet with Elephants again in great
Numbers, thofe Creatures delighting chiefly in
the woody Part of the Country.
This long continued March fatigued us very
much, and two of our Men fell fick, indeed io
very fick, we thought they would have died ^ and
one of our Negroes died fuddenly. Our Surgeon
faid it was an Apoplexy, but he wondered at it,
he faidy for he could never complain of his high
Feeding. Another of them was very ill, but our
Surgeon with much ado perfwading him, indeed
it was almoft forcing him, to be let Blood, he re-
cover'd.
We halted here twelve Days for the fake of
our lick Men, and our Surgeon perfwaded me,
and three or four more of us, to be let Blood
during the time of Reft, which with other things
he gave us^ contributed very much to our conti-
nued
( ^5o)
nued Healthy in fo tedious a March, and in fo hot
a Ch'mafe.
In this March we pitched our matted Tents
every Night, and they were very comfortable
to us, tho' we had Trees and VA'oods to fhelter
us alfo in moft Places. We thought it very
ftrange, that in all this Part of the Country we
yet met with no Inhabitants:^ but the principal
Realbn as we found afterwards was, that we ha-
ving kept a Weftcrn Courfe firft, and then a
Northern Courfe, were gotten too much into
the Middle of the Country, and among the De-
flirts: Whereas the Inhabitants are principally
found among the Rivers, Lakes, and Low-Lands
as well to the South- Weft, as to the North.
What little Rivulets we found here, were lb
empty of Water, that except fbme Pits, and
little more than ordinary Pools, there was
fcarce any Water to be leen ,in them;, and they
rather ihe wed, that during the Rainy Months
they had a Channel, than that they had really
any running Water in them at that time : By
\Vhich.it wasealy for us to judge, that we had
a great Way to go -^ but this was no Difcourage-
ment fo lone as we had but Proviiions, and fome
reafbnable Shaker from the violent Heat^ which
indeed I thought was much greater nowj than
when the Sun was juft over our Heads.
Our Men being recovered, we fet forward again>
very well ftored with Provifions and Water fiifii-
cieiit, and bending our Courfe a little to the
Weitward of the North, travelled in Hopes of
fom^ favourable Stream which might bear a Ca-
noe-, but we found none till after twenty Days
Travel, including ei^ht Days Reft, for our Men
beiiig weak we refted very often -^ . efpeciaily
l^ J . - ■ -^ when
(i50
when we came to Places which were proper for
our Purpofe^ where we found Cattel, Fowl, or
any thing to kill for our Food. In thofe twenty-
Days March, we advanced four Detu'ees to the
Northward, befides fome Meridian Diftance Weft-
ward, and we met with Abundance of Elephants,
and with a good Number of Elephants Tetith
fcatter'd up and down, here and there, in the
Woody Grounds efpecially -^ fome of which wer?"*
very large. But they were no Booty to us ^ Oiii*
Bufmefs was Provifions, and a good Paffage out of
the Country •, and it had been much move to our
Purpofe, to have found a good f\t Deer, and to
have killed it for our Food, than a hundred Ton
of Elephants Teeth i^ and yet as you fliall pre-
sently hear, when we came to begin our FaiTage
by Water, we once thought to have built a
large Canoe on purpole to have loaded her with
Ivory, but this was when we knew nothing of
the Rivers, nor knew anything how dangerous, and
how difficult a PalTage it was that we were like
to have in them, norhadconfidered the Weight
of Carriage to lug them to the Rirers where
we might Embark.
At the End of twenty Days Travel, as above,
in the Latitude of three Degrees, fixteen Minu-
tes, we difcovered in a Valley, at fome Di/lance
from us, a pretty tolerable Stream, which we
thought deferved the Name of a River, and
which run its Courfe N. N. W. which was
juft what we wanted. As we had fixt our Thoughts
upon our Palfage by Water, we took this for the
Place to make the Experiment, and bent our
March directly to the Valley.
There was a imall Thicket of Trees juft in our
Way, which we went by, thinking no harm,
L 4. whac
( I5M
Ki'hen on a fudden one of our Negroes was very
dangeroufiy wounded with an Arrow, iliot into
his Back llanting between his Shoulders. This
put us to a full Stop, and three of our Men with
two Kegroes fpreading the Wood, for it was
but a fmall one, found a Negro with a Bow,
but no Arrow, who would have efcaped •, but our
]S/[en that dilcovered him, ihot him in Reven-
ge of the Mifchief heliad done-, fo we loft the
Opportunity of taking him Prifbner, which if we
had done, and fent him home with good "Ufage,
it might have brought others to us in a friendly-
Manner.
Going a little farther, we came to five Kegro
Hutts or Houfes, built after a differing Manner
from any we had feen yet *, and at the Door of
one of them, lay feven Elephants Teeth piled
lip aga'nfl the Wall or Side of the Hutt, as if
they had been provided againft a Market : Here
were no Men, but feveo or eight Women, and
near twenty Children : We offered them no Unci-
vility of any kind, but gave them every one a
Bit of Silver beaten out thin, as 1 obferved be-
fore, and cut Diamond fafliion, or in the Shape
of a Bird ^ at which the Women were over-joy 'd
and brought out to us feveral Sorts of Food,
which we did not underftand, being Cakes of
a Meal made of Roots, which they bake in the
Sun, and wliich eat very vv^ell. We went a little
Way farther, and pitched our Camp for that
Isight, not doubting but our Civility to the
Women would produce fome good Effect, when
their Husbands might come Home,
Accordingly, the next Morning, the Women,
with eleven Men, five young Boys, and two good
big Girls, came to our Camp ^ before they came
quite
( 153)
^uJte to us, the Women called aloud, and made
an odd fcreeking Koife, to bring us out, and
accordingly we came out, when two of the Wo-
men, fhewing us what we had given them, and
pointing to the Company behind, made fuch
Signs as we could eaiily underftand iignitied
Friendfhip. When the Men advanced, having
Bows and Arrows, they laid them down on the
Ground, fcraped, and threw Sand over their
Heads, and turned round three times with their
Hands laid up upon the Tops of their Heads.
This it feems, was a folemn Vow of Friendfhip.
Upon this we beckon'd them with our Hands to-
come nearer ; then they fent the Boys and Girls
to us firft, which, it leems was to bring us more
Cakes of Bread, and Ibme green Herbs, to eat^
which we received, and took the Boys up and kifled,
them, and the little Girls too ^ then the Men came
up clofe to us, and fat them down on the Ground,
making Signs, that we fhould fit down by them,
which we did. They faid much to one another,
but we could not under fland them, nor could
we find any way to make them underftand us ;
much lefs whither we were going, or what we
wanted, only that we eafily made them under-
ftand we wanted Victuals; whereupon one of
the Men cafting his Eyes about him towards a
rifmg Ground that was about half a Mile off,
flarts up as if he was frighted, flies to the Place
where they had laid down their Bows and Ar-
rows, fnatches up a Bow and two Arrows, and
run like a race Horfe to the Place : When he
came there, he let fly both his Arrows, and
comes back again to us with the fame Speed ;
we feeing he came with the Bow, but without the
Arrows, were the more inquifitive, but the Fellow
faying
( 154 ;
jfaying nothing to us, beckons to one of our Ne.'
grocsto come to him, and we bid him go;, fo he led
him back to the Place, where lay a kind of a Deer,
ihot with two Arrows, but not quite dead^ and,
between them, they brought it down to us. This
was for a Gift to u% and was very welcome, I
affure you, for our Stock was low/ Thefe Peo-
ple were all ftark naked.
The next Day there came about a Hundred
Men to us, andWomen, making the fameaukward
Signals of Friendfl-iip-, and dancing and ihewing
themfelves very well pleafed, and any thing they
had they gave us. How the Man in the Wood
came to be fo butcherly and rude, as to flioot at
our Men, without making any Breach firft, we
could not imagine •, for the People were fimple,
plain, and inoffenfive, in all our other Converfa-
tion with them.
From hence we went down the Bank of the
little River I mentioned, and where I found we
iFiOuld fee whole Nations of Negroes, but whe-
ther friendly to us, or not, that we could make
no Judgment of yet.
The River wab of no Ufe to us, as to the Defign
of making Canoes, a great while, and we tra-
verfed the Country, on the Edge of it about
five Days more^ when our Carpenters finding
the Stream encreafe, propofed to pitch our
Tents, and fall to work to make. Canoes; but
after we had begun the Work, and cut down
two or three Trees-j and fpent five Days in the
Labour, fome of our Men wandring further
down the River, brought us Word, that the
Stream rather decreafed than encreafed, finking
awny into the Sands, or drying up by the Heat
of the Sun •, fo that the River appeared not able
to
( 155 )
to carry the leaft Canoe, that could be any way
ufeful to us, fo we were obliged to give over our
Enterprize, and mov^e on.
In our further Profped this Way, wemarrliM
three Days full Weft the Country on the Korth
Side, being extraordinary mountainous, and more
parched and dry than any we had feen yet;
whereas, in the Part which looks due Weft, we
found a pleafant Valley, running a great way
between two great Ridges of Mountains : The
Hills look'd frightful, being entirely bare oi
Trees or Grafs, and even white with the Drinefs
of the Sand-, but in the Valley we had Trees,
Grafs, and fome Creatures that were fit for
Food, and fbme Inhabitants.
We paft by fome of their Hutts or Houfes,
and law People about them, but they run up into
the Hills as foon as they law us *, at the End of
this Valley we met with a peopled Country,
and at firft it put us to fome doubt, whether
wefhouldgo among them, or keep up torvards
the Hills Northerly, and as our Aim was prin-
cipally, as before, to make our Way to the River
Niger^ we enclined to the latter, purfuins; our
Courfe by the Compafsto the N. W. We march'd
thus without Interruption {even Days more,
when we met with a fur prizing Circumftance,
mufch more defolate and difconfolate than our
own, and, which, in time to come, will fcarce
feem credible.
We did not much feek the converfing, or ac-»
quainting our felves with the Natives of the
Country, except where we found the Want of
them for our Provlfion, or their Diredion for
our Way ^^ fo that whereas we found the Country
here begin to be very populous^ efpecially to-
wards
wards our left Hand, that is, to the South, we
lept at the more Diftance Northerly, ft ill ftretch-
ing towards the Weft.
In this Tract we found fbmething or other to
i^llandeat, whichalways fuppliedour NeceiTity,
tho' not lb well as we were provided in our firft
letting out; being thus, as it were, pufhing to
avoid the peopled Country, we at laft came to a
very pleaflint, agreeable Stream of Water, not
big enough to be called a River, but running to
tlie N. N. W. which was the very Courfe we
deft red to go.
On the fartheft Bank of this Brook we perceiv'd
Ibme Ruttsof Negroes not many, and in a little
low Spot of Ground feme Malfe or Ir^Man Corn
growing, which intimated prefently to us, that
there were fome Inhabitants on that Side, lefs bar-
barous than what we had met with in other
places where we had been.
As we went forward our whole Carravan bein g
in a Body, our Negroes, who were in the Front,
cry 'd out, that they faw a White Man\ we were not
much furprized at firft, it being, as we thought, a
Miftake of the Fellows, and asked them what
they meant; when one of them ftept to me,
and pointing to a Hutt on the other Side of the
Hill, I was aftonlfhed to fee a White Man
indeed, but ftark naked, very bufy near the
Door of his Hutt, and ftooping down to
the Ground with fomething in his Hand, as if h«
h:^dbeen at fome Work, and his back being to-
wards us, he did not lee us..
I gave Notice to our Negroes to make no Noife,
and waited till fome more of our Men were come
up, to ftiew the Sight to them, that they might be
fure I was not miftaken, and we were foon fatis-
Red of the Truth- for the Man having heard
fome Noife, ftarted up, and looked full at u^^
as much furprized, to be fure, as we we-e.,
but whether with Fear or Hope^ we rherl
knew not.
Ashe difcovered us, fo did the re:fi of' the inha«
bitants belonging to the Kutts about h^'m^anci
all crouded together, looking at us at a Dill:ance:
A little Bottom, in which the Brook ran, ly'n^
between us, the white Man, and all the reii^
as he told us afterwards, not knowm" well whe-
ther they ihould ftay, or run away: However, it
prefently came into my Thoughts, that if the^a
were white Men among them, it would be much
eafier for us to make them underii:and what we
meant, as to Peace or War, than we found it with
others;, fo tying a Piece of white Rag to rhe End
of a Stick, we fent two Negroes with it to the
Bank of the Water, carrying the Pole up as
high as they could-, it was prefently underilood,
and two of their Men, and the white Man, came
to the Shore on the other Side.
However, as the white Man fpoke r:o Portugucfej^
they could underftand nothing of one another,
but by Signs ^ but our Men made the white Ma i
underfland, that they had white Men wirh
them too, at which they faid the white M;m
laught. However, to be fliort, our Men came
back, and told us they were all good Friends,
and in about an Hour four of our Men, two Ne-
groes, and the Black Prince went to the River
.Side, were the white Man came to them.
They had not been half a Qiiarter of an Hour,
but a Negro carae running to me, and told me
the white Man was Inglefe, as he called him^
upon which 1 run back, eagerly enough you may
be
be fure with him, and found as he faid, that he
was an EvgUflimffn -^ upon which he embraced
i me very paihonately, the Tears runrting down
his Face. The firft Surprize of his feeing us
was over before we came, but any one may con-
ceive of it, by the brief Account he gave us after-
wards of his very unhappy Circumftance *, and
» of fo unexpefted a Deliverance, fuchas perhaps
\ never happened to any Man in the World*, for it
5 was a Million to one odds, that ever he could
have been relieved-, nothing but an Adventure
that never was heard or read of before, could
have fuited his Cafe, unlefs Heaven by fbme Mi-
racle that never was to be expeded, had a£led
for him.
He appeared to be a Gentleman, not an ordi-
nary bred Fellow, Seaman, or labouring Man;
this fhewed it felf in his Behaviour, in the firft
Moment of our converfing with him, and in
ipight of all the Difadvantages of his miferable
Circumftance.
He was a middle-aged Man, not above 37 or 5^,
tho' his Beard was grown exceeding long, and the
Hair of his Head and face ftrangely covered him
to the Middle of his Back and Breaft, he was
white, and his Skin very fine, tho' difcoloured,
andinibme Places bliftered and covered with a
brown blackiih Subftance, fcurfy, fcaly, and hard
which was the Effect of the fcorching Heat of
the Sun \ he was ftark naked, and had been fb,
as he told us, upwards of two Years.
He was fo exceedingly tranfported at our meet-
ing with him, that he could fcarce enter into
any Difcourfe at all with us for that Day, and
when he could get away from us for a little,
we fiw him walking alone, and fhewing all the
moft
( 159 )
moft extravagant Tokens of an uno^overnable
Joy ^ and even afterwards he was never without
-Tears in his Eyes for lever al Days, upon the Je^ft
Word fpoken by us of his Circumftances, or by
him of his Deliverance.
We found his Behaviour the moft cour**eous
and endearing I ever fliw in any Man whatever,
and moft evident Tokens of a mannerly weQ-
bred Perlbn, appeared in all rhuigs he did or firi*
and our People were exceedingly taken w^>h him.
He was a Scholar, and a Matnematic'a.i- he
could not fpeek Portnauefe indeed, but he Ipoke
Latin to our Surgeon, French to another of our
Men, and Italian to a Th^rd.
He had no Leifure in his Thoughts to ask us
whence we came, whither we were going, or
who we were ; but would have it always as n
Anfwer to himfelf, that to be fure wherever
Ave were a-going, we came from Heaven, and were
lent on purpofe to lave him from the moft
wretched Condition that ever Man wns redu-
ced to-
Our Men pitching their Camp on the Bank
of a little River oppofite ro him, he be'{an to
enquire what Store of Provilion we had, and
how we propofedtobe fupp-ied^ when he found
that our Store was but linall, hefaiJ he wouM
talk with the Natives, and we ihoald have Pro-
vifions enough *, for he (aid they were the moft
courteous, good natured Parto^ the Inhabitants
in all thai: Part of the Country, a^, we might
fuppofe by his living fo fafe among them.
The fir ft things this Gentleman did for us were
i/.deed of the greateft Confequence to u*^-, for
firft he perfe£lly informed us where we were,
and which was t\\Q properefc Courle for ji*' *:o
fteer :
( i6o )
fteer : fecondly, he put us in a Way how to fur-
niih our felves etHtually with Provifions^ and
Thirdly, he was our compleat hiterpreter and
Peace-maker with all the Natives, who now
began to be very numerous about us *, and who
were a more fierce and politick People than
thofe we had met with before ^ not lo eafily
terrified with our Arms as thofe, and not fa
ignorant, as to give their Provifions and Corn
forour little Toys, fuch as 1 faid before our
Artificer made -^ but as they had frequently traded
andconverfed with the Burofe^ns on the Coaft,
or with other Negro Nations that hiid traded
and been concerned with them, they were the lefs
ignorant, and the lefs fearful, and confequently
nothing was to be had from them but by Ex-
change for fuch things as they liked.
This 1 fay of the Negro Natives, which we
foon came among ^ but as to thefe poor Peo-
ple that he lived among, they were not much
acquainted with Things, being at the Diftance
of above 300 Miles from the Coaft,^ only that
they found Elephants Teeth upon the tJills to
the North, which they took and carried aboiit
fixty orfeventy Miles Slouth, where other trading
2s^egroes ufually met them, and gave them Beads
Glafs, Shels, and Cowries for them, fuch as
theE??gl'fij and Dutch and other Traders, furnift
them with from Burofs,
We now began to be more familiar with our new
Acquaintance^ and firfl-, tho' we made but a forry
. Figure as to Clothes our felves, having neither
' Shoe, or Stocking, or Glove or Hat among us,
and b'Jt very few Shirts, yet as well as we could
we clothed him:^ and lirft our Surgeon having
SciiTers and Razors, fkaved him, and cut hi.-^
Hair j
( i6i ;
Hair •, a Hat^ as I fay, we had not in all our Sto'e^y
bur he (lipply'd himlelf by making hinifeir a Cap "'
of a Piece of a Leopard Skin, moft artificially.
As for Shoes or Stockings, he had gone ib long
without them, that he cared not even for the Bus-
kins and Foot-Gloves we wore, which I defcii-
bed above.
As lie had been curious to hear the \yhole Story
of our Travels, and was exccednif^ly delighted
wid:i the Relat'on :, fo we were no lefs to' know, ,
and plealed with the Account o/ hisCircurnitaacej
and the Riftory of his comxin;^ to thi:t' itrange
Place alone, and in that Conditio-:, which \v^?
found him in, as above.
This Account of his would indeed be in iruif '\
the Subjeft of an agreeable Riftory, and would b^ ^
as long and as divertii^g as our own, havin:^ " .
it many ftrange and extraordinary Ihci'den^-..
but we cannot have Room here to launch ox.::
into f) long a Digreiiion^ the Sum of his Hiiiory ^
was this. ' /
Be had been a FaSror for the F^(tI:jJj Gidn-^.y
Company at Slci^^ Lcoriy or fome other of tiie'r
Settlements which had been taken Dy t]i6 F7-er:ch^
where he had been .plundered of all his own' Ei"-
fecbs, as well as of what was ,intruit'ed'to'hi2l^'by
the Comipany. Whether it was, that the Com-
pany did not do him ju{lice in reiloring his'Cir-
cumftimces, or in flrrther employing him,, he
quitted their Servi:ej and^yas%Lploye4bv rfe?(e ]
tb.oy called SepaiT.^e Traders ^/'^^aiad; being ii^ef- I
wards out of ^Employ there alio,, tpided oh i:s /
own AccouiitV v/hernpainiig unwarily into. one.6f
the Company^s SetLlv'.ments, he v/aseither.bptvayM
into the Hands o-f Ibmeof the Natives, or lome
how or other was farprized by them.. Howe-
M ' ver.
(i6a)
ver, as they did not kill him, he found Means to
efcape from them at that time, and fled to another
Nationof the Natives, who being Enemies to the
other, entertained him friendly, and with them
he lived fome time *, but not liking his Quarters,
or his Company, he fled again, and feveral times
changed his Landlords *, fometimes was carry'd
hy Force, fometimes hurried by Fear, as Cir-
cumftances altered with him (the Variety of
which delerves a Hiftory by it felf) till at laft
he had wandred beyond all PoiTibility of Return,
and had taken up his Abode where we found him,
where he was well received by the petty King of
the Tribe he lived with ^ and he, in Return, in-
flruflied them how to value the Produ£l of their
Labour, and on what Terms to trade with thole
IS^egroes who came up to them for Teeth.
As he was naked, and had no Clothes, fo he
was naked of Arms for his Defence, having nei-
ther Gun, Sword, Staff, or any Inflrument of
War about him, no not to guard himfelf againft
the Attacks of a wild Beaft, of which the Coun-
try was very full. We asked him how he came
to be fb entirely abandoned ot all Concern for his
Safety ? He anfwered, That to him that had fo
often wifliM for Death, Life was not worth de-
fending •, and that as he was entirely at the Mer-
cy of the Negroes, they had much the more Con-
fidence in him, feeing he had no Weapons to hurt
them. As for wild Beads, he was not much con- .
cerned about that -^ for he fcarce ever went from
his Hutt ^ but if he did, the Negroe King and
his Men went all with him, and they were all ar-
med with Bows and Arrows, and Lances, with
which they would kill any of the ravenous Crea-
tures, Lions as well as others^ but that they fel-
dom
dom came abroad in the Day ;, and if the Ne*
groes wander any where in the Kight, they al-
ways build a Hutt for themfelves, and make a
Fire at the Door of it, which is Guard enough.
We enquired of him, what we fliould next do
towards getting to the Sea-fide -^ he told us we
were about 1 20 Englijh Leagues from the Coafr,
where almoft all the European Settlements and
Factories were, and which is called the Gold
Coaft ^ but that there were fo many different Na-
tions of Negroes in the Way, that it was ten to
one if we were not either fought with continu-
iilly, or ftarv'd for Want of Provifions : But that
there were two other Ways to go, which, if he
had had any Company to go with him, he had often
contrived to make his Efcape by. The one was
to travel full Weft, which, tho' it was farther to
go, yet was not fo full of People •, and, the People
we fhould find, would be fo much the civiller
to us, or be i^o much the eafier to fight with : Or,
that the other Way was, if poiTible, to get to the
Rio Gra-ftdj and go down the Stream in Canoe?.
We told him, that was the Way we had re-
jfblved on before we m^et with him ; but then
he told us, there was a prodigious Defart tc go
over, and as prodigious Woods to go thro,' be-
fore we came to it, and that both together were
at leafl twenty Days March for us, travel as hare,
as we could.
We ask'd him, if there were no Horfes :n
the Country, or Affes, or even Bullocks or Buf-
fioes to make ufe of in fuch a Journey, and we
iliewed him ours, of v/hich we had but three left;
he faid No, all the Country did not aiford any
thing of that kind.
M 2 He
( '^-V )
He told us, tliac in this great Wood there
were innumeriible Kumbers of Elephants, and
npon the Defart, p;reat Multitudes of Lions,
Linxes, Tygers, and Leopards, &c, and that it
was to that Wood, and to that Dcfart that the
^Kegroes went to get Elephants Teeth^ where
they never failed to find a great Kumber.
We enquired ftill more, and particularly the
Way to the Gold Coafl-, a:id if there were \io
U-'vers to eafe us in our Carriage; and told
him, as to the Kegroes fighting with us, we
were not much concerned at that ; nor were we
afraid of flarving •, for if they had any Vicluals
amonji; them . we would have cur Share of it :
And therefore, if he would venture to ihew us
the VVay, we would venture to go ; and as tor
hmi(eU', we told hnn we would live and dye
together, thc^'re -houki not a Pvlan of us ftir from
him.
He told u!^, with all his Heart, if we refolv'd
it, and would venture, we might be^ alTured he
would tahe his Tate with us, and he would en-
deavour to guide us fuch a W^iy, as we iliould
meet with fome Iriendly Savages Vv^ho would ufe
us well, and perhaps iland by us aG;ainft Ibme
others who v^ere kds tradable : So, in a Word,
ve all refolved to go full South for the Gold
v.^oaft.
The next Morning he came to us again, and
be-'ng all met in Council, as we may call it, he
began-to talk very feriouily with us, thatfince
we were now come after a long journey to a\'iew
of the End of our Troubles, and liad been lb ob-
iK^ling to him, as to of?er Carrying ^h*m^ with
liS, he had been all l^ight revolving in his
Mind v/hat he and we all might do to TiYd"^.^
( 1^5 )
our feWes fome Amends fo: all our Sorroivs ^
and firft he fiiid, he wjis to let: me know-, that
we were juft then ill 0!:e of the richeft Parts of
the World, the' it was really otherwife, l:ut a
defolate, dirconfblate Wildernefs^ for fay? he,
there'^s not a River here but runs Gold, not a
Defart but without Plowing bears a Crop of Ivo-
ry. What Minesj of Gold, what imnienfe Stores
of Gold thofe Mountains may. contain , from
whence thefe Rivers come, or the Shores \vhich
thefe Waters run by, we know not, but may
imagine that they mull be inconceivably rich, Cez-
in?^ fo much ii wafned c^own the Stream by the
Water waihing the Sides of the L^nd, that tlie
Quantity fuHices all the Traders which the Euro-
pea?: W^orld fend thither- We ask'd him ho.v
flir they went for it, feeing the Ships only trade
upon the Coaft. He told us, that the Negrc-^s
on the Coafl learchthe Pvlvers up for tlie Length
ol" I 50 or 200 Miles, and would be out 2 Montli
or two or- diree at a Time, and always come
Home fulnciently rewarded ♦, bat, fays he, thev
never come thus far, and yet hereabouts is as
m-uch Gold as there. Upon this he told u-',
that he believed he miglit have gotten a Hu'..i-
dred Pound Weight of Gold, {incc he came th'-
ther, if he had employed himf(?lf to look and
work for it, but as he knew not wliat to do
Vv^ith it, and had long fince defpaired of being
ever delivrered n'om tire Mifery he v/as in, he
Iiad entirely omitted it. For what Advantage
had it been to me, fiid he, or what richer had
I been, if I had a Ton of Gold Dufr, and lay and
wallowed in it •, the Richnefs of it, C-^'d hc^ -/ouid not
give me one Moment's Felicity.^ or relieve me in ^
the prefent Exigency. Nay, (ay? he, a^ you all ieo /
M 3 ' it
h would not buy me Clothes to cover me, or a
Drop of Drink to fave me from periihing. 'Tis
of no Value here, fays he •, there are feveral
People amonii, thefe Hutts that would weigh Gold
againft a few Giafs Beads, or a Cockle-Shell, and
give you a Handful of Gold Duft for a Hand-
ful of Cowries. N. B. Thefe are little Shells
which our Children call Blackamores Teeth.
When he had faid thus, he pulled out a Piece
of an earthen Pot baked hard in the Sun : Here
fays hcy is Ibme of the Dirt of this Country, and
if I would, I could have got a great deal more ;
and iliewing it to us, 1 believe there was be-
tween two and three Found Weight of Gold Duft,
of the fame Kind and Colour with that we had
gotten already, as before. After we had look'd
at it a while, he told us finiling, we were his De-
liverers, and all he had, as well as his Life, was
ours ^ and therefore, as this would be of Value
to us when we came to our own Country, ib he
defired we would acc?pt of it among us, and that
this was the only time that he had repented
that he had pickt up no m.ore of it.
.1 fppke for him as his Interpreter to my Com-
rades, and in their Karnes thank'd him; but
fpeaking to them in Tortnguefe^ I de fired them
to refer the Accepting his Kindnefs to the next
Morning, and {o I did, telling him we would far-
ther tafk of this Part in the Morning •, fo we
parted for that time.
When he was gone, I found they wefe all won-
derfully aiieaed with his Difcourfe, and with the
Generofity of his Temper, as well as the Magnifi-
cence o^ his Prefent, which in another Place had
been extraordinary. Upon the whole, not to
detain you with Circumflances, we agreed, that
ieeiiii';
( »67 )
feeing he was now one of our Number, and that
as we were A Relief to him in carrying him out
of the difmal Condition he was in, fb he was
equally a Relief to us, in being our Guide thro'
the reit of the Country, our Interpreter with the
Natives, and our Director how to manage with
the Savages, and how to enrich our felves with
the Wealth of the Country ; that therefore we
would put his Gold among our common Stock,
and every one fhould give him as much as would
make his up juft as much as any fingle Share of
our own, and for the future we would take our
Lot together, taking his folemn Engagement to
us, as we had before one to another, that we
would not conceal the leaft Grain of Gold we
found, ope from another.
In the next Conference we acquainted him with
the Adventures of the Golden River, and how
we had fhared what we got there ^ fb that every
Man had a larger Stock than he for his Share;
that therefore inflead of taking any from him, we
had refblved every one to add a little to him. He
appeared very glad that we had met with fuch
good Succefs, but would not take a Grain from
us, till at laft prefling him very hard, he told us,
that then he would take it thus : That when we
came to get any more, he would have fb much
out of the firfl as fliould make him even, and .
then we would go on as equal Adventurers -^ and '
thus we agreed.
He then told us, he thought it would not be
an unprofitable Adventure, if before we fet for-
ward, and after we had got a Stock of Pro-
vifions, we fhould make a Journey North to the
Edge of the Defart he had told us of, from
whence our Negroes might bring every one a
Pvl 4 largo
( ,68 )
hrge Elephant's Tooth, and-thcntfhc would get
fonia more to. ^i^^ii^'^ 'cinci that a iter .a certain
l,enG;tH of Ca':r:aa;e, they might be conveyed by
Canoes to the Coaft, where they would vieid a
very great Profit.
I objerred againft this, on Account of our other
Defign we had of getting Gold Duft ^ and that
oiir Kegroes, who, we knew would be fa'thful
to us, would get much more by fearchhig the
Rqvers for Gold for us, than by lugging a great
Too'h of an Hundred and fifty Pound Weight, a
Hundred Mile, cr more,, which would be an
unfuilerable Labour to them nftcr fo hard a Jour-
ney, and would certainly kill them.
' He .'acquiefced in the Jullice of this Anfwer,
but fain would have had us gone to fee the
v/Qody Fp^rt of the E ill's, ■■a[nd .the Edge of the
Deiart'^-'that wc might .fte how the El£:plin:nts
Teeth lay. fcattered upland down there ^ but
when we tpld him the Story of;' wliat we had {ccn
before, a$ is faM above, he faid no more.
We 'ffidy'd here twelye pay^^ during ^wh'ch
Time;£he' Kativ^ were; very obliging to us, a, id
' "" and a Root like
iis'Ple-ity;q?'jW:hat .they^ha:d,,andwe live^d very
^611^ andye^iiV<& tite^ as
our Pvidif'liaS'Jtiade, for he h:id row a whole
Bag'fj"*: C-' thf nl.. ., ,, ..,;..
On : :. centb Dajf^e^let wrward^::taj;iiig
our ne:^.^ ocntl^tlati wiih'ijs... At Parting," the
jNcgroe 'j\i\}%^fcrit_ t^'-b "Savages *wkh a 'Prefent
to hirp, X>f IbrpQ^ dried F/eiii^hnt I do not remem-
ber whit' ii'wasy^ U-nd ^i£ ga^e him ^igain three
-., ■■'... >, ., '• Silver
( '69 )
Sil^^er Birds wii cli our Cutler helpM him to,
which I TtfTure you was a Prefent ibv a Kino;.
We travelled now South, a little Wefc,^ and
here we found the lii-ft Fvivcr for above 2000
M'les March, w ho fe Water run South, "all tliQ
reft tunni 112; North or Weft. We foUowed this
River, which was no bigger than a good large
Brook in EtigLr/sd , till it began to enc reale its
Water. Every now and then v/e found our Er?g^
li(l?r/:a/7\vent dov.^n as it were privately to the
Water, vx^hich v.ms to try the Land. At LenG;t]i,
afier a Day's March upon this River, he came
running up to us with his Kands full Sand, and
faying Lock here. Upon looking, ave found that a
good deal of Gold lay fpangled among the Sand
of the River. Kow, fays he, I think v/e may:
begin to work', fo he divided our Negroes in-
to Couples, and iet them to Work, to fearch and
v/aili the Sand and Ooze in the Bottom of the
Water where it Vv^as not deep.
' In the firft Day and a Quarter, our Men aU
tc;;ether had gathered n Pound and two Ounce:;
of Gold, or thereabouts •, and as we found the-
Q.uanti ty encreaied, the firther we went, we-
followed it about three Days, till another frnaU
F.ivulet joirfd the firfc, and then fearching up •
the Stream, vv^e found Goid there too*, fo wc
pltchM our Cam.p in tpiQ Angle v/here the Ri- /
\er?^ join'd, and v/e diverted our felves, as I mar /
call it, in wafliing the Gold out of the Sand of /
the River, and in getting Provifions.
, Here we ftay'd thirteen Days more,- in which *
time we had mcny pleafmt Adventures with • tho..
Savages,. too long to mention here, und" Ibme of
them too homely to tell oil"-, for Tome of our Men
had made fbmething fVce with their Women,
which.
"which, had not our new Guide made Peace for
us with one of their Men, at the Price of feveii
£ne Bits of Silver, which our Artificer had cut
out intp the Shapes of Lions, and Fifhes, and
Birds, and had punched Holes to hang them up
by (an ineftimable Treafure !) we muft have gone
to War with them and all their People.
All the while we were bufy wafhing Gold Duft
out of the Rivers, and our ISIegroes the like, our
ingenious Cutler was hammering and cutting, and
he was grown fo dexterous by Ufc^ that he for-
med all Manner of Images. Ke cat out Ele-
phants, Tygers, Civet Cats, Oftriches, Eagles,
Cranes, Fowls, Fiihes, and indeed whatever he
pleafed, in thin Plates of ham.mer'd Gold, for
his Silver and Iron was almoin all gone.
At one of the Towns of thefe Savage Nati-
ons we were very friendly received by their
King • and as he was very much taken with our
Workman's Toys, he fold him an Elephant cut
out of a .Gold Plate as thin as a Six-pence, at
an extravagant Rate. He was fo much taken
with it, that he would not be quiet till he had
given him almofl: a Handful of Gold Dufi:, as
they call it. I fuppofe it might weigh three
Quarters of a Pound •, the Piece of Gold that
the Elephant was made of, might be about the
Weight of a Piftole, rather lefs than more. Our
Artift was ib honeft, tho^ the Labour and Art was
all his own, that he brought all the Gold, and
put it into our common Stock : But we had indeed
no Manner of Reaibn in the leaft to be cove-
tous • for, as our new Guide told us, we that
were flrong enough to defend our ielves, and
had Time enoup:h to ftay (for we were none of
us in Hafte) mip:lic in r'me y'et together what
Qiinn-
( ^v )
Quantky of Gold we pleafed, even to an Hun-
dred Pound Weight aMan, if we thought fit; and
therefore he told us, tho' he had as much Reafbn
to be fick of the Country as any of us, yet if we
thought to turn our March a little to the South-
Eaft, and pitch upon a Place proper for our
Head Quarters, we might find Provifions plenty
enough, and extend our felves over the Country
among the Rivers for two or three Year to the
Right and Left, and we Ihould foon find the Ad-
vantage of it.
The Propofal, however good as to the profita-
ble Part of it, liiited none of us •, for we were all
more defirous to get Home, than to be rich, be-
ing tired of the exceflive Fatigue of above a Year's
continual Wandring among Defarts and wild
Beafts.
However, the Tongue of our new Acquain-
tance had a Kind of Charm in it, and ufed
fiich Arguments, and had fo much the Power of
Perfwafion, that there was no refifting hjm. He
told us, it was prepofterous not to take the Fruit
of all our Labours, now we were come to the
Harveft; that we might fee the Hazard the
Europeans run, with Ships and Men, and at great
Expence, to fetch a little Gold ; and that we
that were in the Center of it, to go away em-
pty handed, was unaccountable •, that we were
firong enough to fight our Way thro' whole
Nations, and might make our Journey afterward
to what Part of the Coaft weplealed-, and we
fhould never forgive our felves when we came
to our own Country, to fee we had 500 Pifioles
in Gold, and might as eafily have had 5000, or
1 0000, or what we pleafed •, that he was no more
covetous than we, but feeing it was in all our
Powers
( ^7^ ;
Powers to retrieve our Misfortunes at once, and
to make our felves caly for all our Lives, he
could not h: faithful to us, or grateful for the
Good wc liad done him, if he did not let us fee
the Advantage we liad in our Hands ; and he
alTured us, he would make it clear to our own
Underftanding, that we might in two Years time,
by good Management, and by the Help of our
Kegroes, gather every Man a Hundred Pound
Weight of Gold, and get together perhaps two
Hundred Ton of Teedi : Whereas, if once we
pufli'd onto the Coaft, and (eparated, wefliould
never be able to fee that Place again with our
Eyes, or do any more than Sinners did with Hea-
ven, wifh themfelves there, but know they can
never come at it.
Our Surgeon was the firft Man that yielded to
his Reafoning, and afcer him the Gunner •, and
they two indeed had a great Influence over us, but
none of the reft had any Mind to ftay, nor 1 nei-
ther, I muft confefs *, for 1 had no Notion of a
great deal of Money, or what to do witli my felf,
or what to do with it if I had it. I thought I had
f?]iough already, and all the Thoughts I had about
difpofmg of it, if I came to Europe^ was only how
to fpend it as faft as I could, buy me fbme Clothes,
and go to Sea again to be a Drudge for more.
However, he prevailed with us by his good
Words at laft, to ftay but for fix Months in the
Country, and then, if we did- relblve to go, he
would fubrnit : So at length we yielded to that,
and he carry'd us about fifty Ef7gi:fh Miles South-
Eaft, where we found feveral Rivulets of Water,
which feem'd to come ail from a great Pvidge of
Mountains, which lay to tiie North-Eaft, and
-which, by our Calculation, muft be the Beginning
( m )
that Way of the great Waft, which we had been
forc'd ]>Iorthward to avoid.
11 ere we found the Country barren enough,
but yet we had, by hisDireftion, Plenty of Food -
for the Savages round us, upon giving them Ibme
of our Toys, asl have fo often mentioned, brought
us in whatever they had: And here we found
fome Maife, or Indian Wheat, which the Negroe
Women planted, as we fow Seeds in a Garden,
and immediately our new Proveditor ordered i
fome of our Negroes to plant it, and it grew up
prefently, and by watering it often, we had a.
Crop in lefs than three Months Growth.
As fbon as we were fettled, and our Camp
fixM, we fell to the old Trade of Fiiliing for Gold
in the Rivers mentioned above; and onv EngUjlt
Gentleman fo well knew how to dire£l: our Search,
that we fcarce ever loft our Labour.
One time, having fet us to Work, he asked, if
we would give him Leave, with four or five K^-
groes, to go out for fix or feven Days, to leek his
Fortune, and fee what he could difcover in the
• Country, alluring us, whatever he got fliould b::
for the publick Stock. We all gave him our Con-
I'ent, lent him a Gun ; and two qf our Men de-
firing to go with him, they took then fix Ne-
groes with them, and two of our Buliloes that
came with us the whole journey ; they took about
eight Dp.ys Provifion of Bread vith them , but
no Flelli, except about as much dried Flefh as
would ferve them two Days.
They travelled up to the Top of the Mou-ii-
tains I mentioned juft now, where they faw, (as
our Men afterwards vouch'd it to- be) the fame
Defint which we were fb juftly terrified at, when
we were on the further Side, and which, by our
Calcu-
( 174 )
Calculation, could not be lefs than 300 Miles
broad, and above 600 Miles in Length, without
Icnowina; where it ended.
The Journal of their Travels is too lone; to
enter upon here ; they flayed out two and fifty
Days, when they brought us feventeen Pound,
and fomething more (for we had no exa£t Weight)
of Gold Duft, fome of it in much larger Pieces
than any we found before •, befides about fifteen
Ton of Elephants Teeth, which he had, partly
by good Ufage, and partly by bad, obliged the
Savages of the Country to fetch, and bring down
to him from the Mountains, and which he made
others bring with him quite down to our Camp.
Indeed we wondered what was coming to us,
when we law him attended with above 200 Ne-
groes ^ but he fbon undeceived us, when he made
them all throw down their Burthens on a Heap,
at the Entrance of our Camp.
Befides this, they brought two Lions Skins,
and five Leopards Skins, very large and very fine.
He asked our Pardon for his long Stay, and that
he had made no greater a Booty, but told us, he
had one Excurfion more to make, which he hop'd
fliould turn to a better Account.
• So having refted himfelf, and rewarded the
Savages tha^t brought the Teeth for him, with
fome Bits of Silver and Iron cut out Diamond
Fafhion, and with two fhapM like little Dogs, he
(enr them away mightily pleafed.
The fecond Journey he went, fome more of
our Men defired to go with him, and they made
a 'Troop oi ten white Men, and ten Savages, and
the two Buffloes to carry their Provifions and
Ammunition. They took the fame Courfe, on-
ly not exactly the fame TraO:, and they ftay'd
thirty
f »75 )
thirty two Days only, in which time they killed
no iefs than fifteen Leopards, three Lions, and
leveral other Creatures, and brought us Home
fcAir and twenty Pound, fome Ounces of Gold
Duft, and only fix Elephants Teeth, but they
were very great ones.
Our Friend the Engll^iman fhewed us now, that
our Time was well beftow'd *, for in five Months
which we had ftayed here, we had gathered ib
much Gold Duft, that when we came to fhare it,
we had five Pound and a Quarter to a Man, be-
fides what we had before, and befides fix or fevea
Pound Weight which we had at feveral times gi-
ven our Artificer to make Baubles with -^ and now
we talk'd of going forward to the Coaft, to put
an End to our Journey ^ but our Guide laught at
us then : Nay you can't go now, fays he-^ for the
rainy Seafon begins next Month, and there will
he no ll:irring then. This we found indeed rea-
fonable, fo we refblved to furniih our lelves with
Provifions that we might not be obliged to go
abroad too much in the Rain, and we fpread our
felves fome one Way, fome another,- as far as
we cared to venture, to get Provifions, and our
Negroes killed us fome Deer which we cured
as well as we could, in the Sun, for we had now
no Salt.
By this time the rainy Months were fet in,
and we could fcarce , for above two Months: ,
look out of our Hutts. But that was not all, for
the Rivers were fo fwelled with the Land Floods
that we fcarce knew the little Brooks and Rivu-
lets from the great navigable Rivers. This had
been a very good Opportunity for to have con-
vey'd by Water, upon Rafts, our Elephants
Teeth, of which we had a very great Pile^ for
as
( 176 )
as we always gave the Savages fome Reward for
their Labour, the very Women would briir:; us
Teeth upon every Opportuinry, and fc.)metimes a
ejreat Tooth earned between two :, fo that our
C'iiantky was encrealed to about t\vo and twenty
Ton of Teeth.
As (bon as the Weather proved fair again, he
rold us he would not prefs us to any farther Stay,
fmce we did nor care whether we got any more
Gold or no--> that we were indeed the firll: Men
ever he met with in his Life, that f.iid they had
Gold enough, and of whom it might be truly Hiid,
that when it lay under our Fee:, we would
not ftoop to'taLe it up. But fmce he had made
us a Promile, he would not break it, nor prefs
;is to make any farther Stay, only bethought
he ought to tell us , tliat now was the Time,
after the Land Flood, when the greateft Qjuan-
tity of Gold was found-, and that if we ftayed
but one Month, v/e fuould fee Thoufands of Sava-
ges fpread thcinlebTies over the whole Country,
to wafhthe Gold out of the Sand, for the Euro-
fcan Ships who would come on the CoafI: •, that they
c.o it then,becau{e the Rage of the Floods always
works dov7n a great deal of Gold out of thQ
Kills -^ and if we took the Advantage to be there
l>etbre them, we did not know what extraordi-
nary things we midit find.
This was fb forcible, and fb weU. argued, that
it appeared in all our Faces v.^e were, prevailed
upon :, lb we told him we would all liay : E'or
tho' it was true we were all eager to be gone, yet
the evident Profpe8: of f) much Advaatage,
could not well be refifted : That he vv^as grc^atly
miflaken v>?hen he fuggefted, that we did not de-
fire to encreale our Store of Gold, and ia that
we were refblved to make the utmoft Vieofth^
Advantage that was in our Hands, and would
ftay as long as any Gold was to be had, if it was
another Year.
He could hardly exprefs the Joy he was in on
this Occafion, and the fair Weather coming on,
we began juft as he direfted, to fearcli about
the Rivers for more Gold-, at firft we had but
little Encouragement, and began to be doubtfuf,
but it was very plain that the Reafbn was the
Wacer was not fully fallen, or the Rivers reduced
to there ufual Channel •, but in a few Days we
were fully requited, and found much more Gold
than at urft, and in bigger Lumps ^ and one of
our Men waihed out of the Sand a Piec^e of Gold
as big as a fmall Kut, which weighed by our Efti-
mation, for we had no fmall Weights, almofl an
Oinice and a half.
This Succefs made us extreamly diligent, and
in little more than a Month, we had all together
gotten near fixty Pound Weight of Gold;
but after this, as he told us, we found Abun-
dance of the Savages, both Men, Women and
Children, hunting every River and Brook, and
even the dry Land of the Hilts for Gold, fo that
we could do nr)thing like then, compared to what
we had done before.
But our Artificer found a Vv^ay to make other
People find us in Gold without our own Labour ^
for when thefe People be<?^an to appear, he had a
confiderable Quantity of his Toys, Birds, P.ealh',
&c. fuch as before5re?.dy for i.lvc^T.alid the Engliflj
Gentleman being the Interpreter, he brought- the
Savages to admire them •, -fo our Cutler had Trade
enough', and to be fure fold his Goods at a mon-
ll:rous Rate*, for he would get an Ounce of Gold,
]Sl fome*
( '7S )
fcnietimes two, for a Bit of Silver, perhaps ol
the Value of a Groat, nay if it were Iron :, and if:
it was of Gold, they would not give the more
lor it*, and it was incredible ahnoft to think
\vhat a Quantity of Gold he got that Way.
/ In a Word, to bring this happy Journey to a
.' Conclufion, we encreafed our Stock of Gold here
in three Months Stay more, to fuch a Degree,
that bringing it all to a common Stock, in order
to Share it, we divided almoft four Pound Weight
again to every Man, and then we fet forward
for the Gold Coaft, to fee what Method we
could (ind out for our Paffage into Europe.
There happened feveral very remarkable Inci-
dents in this Part of our Journey, as to how we
were, or were not, received friendly, by the feveral
Nations of Savages through whom we pafi: :, how
we delivered one Negroe King from Captivity,
who had been a Benefa^bor to our new Guide ^
and how our Guide in Gratitude, by our AiTift-
ance, reftored him to his Kingdom, which perhaps
might contain about 300 SubjeOrs^ how he enter-
taHied us; and how he made his Subjects go with
our E?7gHjhmany and fetch all our Elephants
Teeth, which we had been obliged to leave be-
hind us, and to carry them for us to the River,
the Name of which I forgot, where we made
Rafts, and in eleven Days more came down to
one of the Dutch Settlements on the Gold Coaft,
where we arrived in perfeO: Health, and to our
great Satisfa£i:ion. As for our Cargo of Teeth,
we f^ld it to the Dutch Factory, and received
Clothes and other Keceffaries for our felves, and
fuch of our Kei2;roes a^ we thought fit to keep
with us-, and it is to be obferved, that we had
lour Pound of Gunpowder left when we ended
our
f 179 ;
Journey. The Negro Tr'mce we made perfe£!:iy
free, clothed him out of our common Stock,
and gave him a Pound and a half of Gold for
himielf, which he knew very well how to mana-
ge, and here we all parted after the moft friendly
Manner pofTible. Our EngUjhmm remained in the
Dutch Faftory fome time, and, as 1 heard after-
wards, died there of Grief ^ for he having fent a
Thoufand Pound Sterling over to England by the
Wfty of Holland, for his Refuge, at his Return
to his Friends, the Ship was taken by the French^
andtheEffeasallloft.
The reft of my Comrades went away in a
Imall Bark, to the two Tortuguefe Faftories, near
C^wfc^, in the Latitude of fourteen*, and I with
two Negroes which I kept with me, went away
to Cafe Coafi Caftle^ where I got PaiTage for Eng-^
landy and arrived there in September ; and thus
ended my firft Harveft of JVdd OatSy the reft
were not fowed to lb much Advantage.
I had neither Friend, Relation^ nor Acquain--^
tance in England^ tho' it was my Native Coun-^
try, I had confequentiy no Perlbn to truft with
what 1 had, or to counfel me to fecure or fave
it; but falling into ill Company, and trufting the
Keepef of a Publick Houfe in Rotherhkh with a
great Part of my Money, and haftily fquander*
ing away the reft, all that great Sum, which I
got with fb much Pains and Hazard, was gone
in little more than two Years Time ^ and as 1 even
rage in my own Thoughts to reiieft upon the
Manner how it was wafted, fo I need record no
more ^ the reft Merits to be conceafd with Blufhe?,
for that it was fpent in all Kinds o^ Folly and
Wickednefs-, fb this Scene of m.y Life may be laid
N 2 t,eif
t ,8o )
to have begun in Theft, and ended in Luxury, a
fad Setting out, and a worfe Coming home.
About the Year I began to fee the Bottom
of my Stock, and that it was Time to think
of farther Adventures, for my Spoilers, as I
call them, began to let me know, that as my
Money declined, their RefpeO: would ebb with it,
and that I had nothing to expeft of them farther
than as I might command it by the Force of my
Money, which in fhort would not go an Inch the
farther, for all that had been fpent in their Fa-
vour before.
This ihocked me very much, and I conceived a
juft Abhorrence of their Ingratitude; but it
wore off; nor had I with it any Regret at the wa^
fting fo glorious a Sum of Money, as I brought
to England with me.
I next ihipped my felf, in an evil Hour to be
fure, on a Voyage to Cadiz,^ in a Ship called the
and in the Courfe of our Voyage, being
on the Coaft of Sfain^ was obliged to put in to
the Groyny by a ftrong South Weft Wind.
Here I fell into Company with fome Mafters
of Mifchief, and among them, one forwarder
than the reft, began an intimate Confidence with
me, fo that we called one another Brothers, and
communicated all our Circumftances to one an-
other ; his Name was Harris, This Fellow came to
me one Morning, asking me if I would go on Shore,
and I agreed; lb we got the Captain's Leave
for the Boat, and went together. When we were
together, he asked me if I had a Mind for an Ad-
venture thaV^ight make amends for all paft
Misfortunes; I told him yes, with all my Heart;
for I did not care where I went, having nothing
to lofe, and no Body to leave behind me.
He
( i8i ;
He thijn asked me if I would fwear to be fe-
cret, and that if I did not agree to what he pro-
pofed, I would neverthelefs never betray him^
I readily bound my felf to that, upon the moft
jfolemn Imprecations and Curfes that the Devil
and both of us could invent.
He told me then, there was a brave Fellow in
the other Ship, pointing to another Engllpj
Ship which rode in the Harbour, who in Con-
cert with fome of the Men had refolved to muti-
ny the next Morning, and run away with the
Ship ^ and that if we could get Strength enough
among our Ship's Company we might do the fame.
I liked the Propofal very well, and he got eight
of us to join with him, and he told us, that as
fbon as his Friend had begun the Work, and was
Mafter of the Ship, we ihould be ready to do
the like; this was his Plot, and I without the
leaft Hefitation, either at the Villainy of the Fad^
or the Difficulty of performing it, came imme-
diately into the wicked Confpiracy, and fo it
went on among us; but we could not bring our
Part to Perfeftion.
Accordingly on the Day appointed, his Cor-
refpondent in the other Ship, whofe Name was
Wilmot^ began the Work, and having feized the
Captain's Mate, and other Officers, fecured the
Ship, and gave the Signal to us ; we were but
eleven in our Ship, who were in the Confpiracy^
nor could we get any more that we could truft,
lb that leaving the Ship, we all took the Boat
and went off to join the other.
Having thus left the Ship I \^s in, we were
entertained with a great deal of Joy by Captain
Wilmot and his new Gang ; and being well pre-
pared for all manner cf Roguery ^ bold, defpe-
N . ' rate^
( i80
/iite, I me:in my felf, without the leaft Checks
of CoafcieDce, for what I was entred upon, or
for any Thinii, I in'u'ht do, much lefs with any
Appreh^nfion of what might be the Confe-
qaence of it ^ I fay, having thus embarked with
this Crew, which at h\ft broup^ht me to confbrt
with thi>moft famous Pyrates of the Age, fome of
whom have ended their Journals at the Gallows :
I think the giving an Account of fome ot my
other Adventures may be aii agreeable Piece
of Story • and this I may venture to f\y before
Hand, iipon the Word of a P Y R ATEJ that I
ihall not be able to recolleO: the full, no not by
far, of the great Variety which has formed one
of the moft reprobate Schemes that ever Man was
capable to prefent to the World.
I that was, as I have hinted before, an original
Thief, and a Pyrate even by Inclination before,
was now in my Element, and never undertook
any Thing in my Life with more particular Sa-
tisfa£l:ion.
Captain Wtlmct^ for fo we are now to call him,
being thus polfelTed of a Ship, and in the Manner
as you have heard, it may be eafily concluded
he had nothiiig to do to ftay in the Port, or to
wait "either the Attempts which might be made
from tlie Shore, or any Change which might
liappen among his Men. On the Contrary, we
weighed Anciior the fame Tide, and f^ood out to
Sea, ileering away for the Canaries* Our Ship
had Twenty Two Guns, but was able to carry
Thirty ; and befides, as flie was fitted out for a
Mercbajit Ship only, flie was not lurniihed either
with Ammunition or fmall Arms fuificient fur
our Defign, or for the Occafion we might have
in Caie of a Fight*, ^o we pur into Otdlz^j that >s
( iS^ )
to fay, we came to an Anchor in the Bay ; and the
Captain and one whom we call'd young Captain
Kid J who was the Gunner, and Ibme of the Men
who could beft be trufted, among whom was my
Comrade Harris^ who was made fecond Mate,
and my felf who was made a Lieutenant ^ fome
Bales of £w^///^ Goods were propofed to be car-
ried on Shore with us for Sale \ but my Comrade,
who was a compleat Fellow at his Bufinels, pro-
pofed a better Way for it •, and having been in
the Town before, told us in ihort, that he would
buy what Powder and Bullet, Imall Arms, or
any thing elfe we wanted, on his own Word, to
be paid for when they came on Board, in fuch
Englljl) Goods as we had there. Th^'s was by much
the beft Way, and accordingly he and the Cap-
tain went on Shore by themfelves, and having made
fuch a Bargain as they found for their Turn, came
away again in two Hours time, and bringing on-
ly a Butt of Wine, and five Casks of Brandy with
them, we. all went on Board again.
The next Morning two Barco Longo's came
off to us deep loaden, with five Spaniards on board
them, for Traifick. Our Captain fold them good
Pennyworths, and they delivered us lixteen Bar-
rels of Powder, twelve fmall Runlets of fine Pow-
der for our imall Arms, fixty Mufquets, and
twelve Fuzees for the Officers ^ feventeen Ton of
Cannon Ball, fifteen Barrels of MufquetBullets,
with fbme Swords, and twenty good Pair of Pi-
flols. Befides this, they brought thirteen Butts
of Wine (for we that were now all become Gen-
tlemen fcofn'd to drink the Ship's Beer) klib fix-
tQQw Puncheons of Brandy, with twelve Barrel?
of Raifms, and twenty Chefts of Lemons : All
which were paid for in EngUpj Goods ; and over
N 4 and
( i84 ;
and above, the Captain received 600 Pieces of
Eight in Money. They would have come again,
but we would ftay no longer.
From hence we failed to the Canaries ^ and from
thence onward to the Weft-InSeSy where we com-
mitted Tome Depredation upon the Spaniards for
Provifion, and took fome Prizes, but none of
any great Value, while I remained with them,
which was not long at that Time, for having
, taken a S^a-filfl) Sloop on the Coaft of Carta^ena^
my Friend made a Motion to me, that we Ihould
defire Captain Wllmot to put us into the Sloop,
with a Proportion of Arms and Ammunition,
and let us try what we could do *, Ihe being much
fitter for our Bufinefs than the great Ship, and a
better Sailer. This he confented to, and we ap-
fX^ pointed our Rendezvous at Tobago ^ making an
Agreement, that whatever was taken by either of
our Ships, fhould be ihared among the Ship's
Company of both-, all which we very punftually
obferved, and join'd our Ships again about fifteen
Months after, at the liland of Tobago^ as above.
We cruiied near two Years in thofe Seas, chief-
ly upon the Spaniards *, not that we made any Dif-
ficulty of taking E?7gliflj Ships, or Dutchy or French^
if they came in our Way •, and particularly Cap--
1:ain Wilmot attacked a New-England Ship bound
txom the Madcras to Jamaica ; and another bound
from Ncw-Tork to Berhadoes ^ with Provifions ;
which laft was a very happy Supply to us. But
the Realbn why we meddled as little with Englijh
VefTeis as we could, was, firft, becaufe, if they
were Ships of any Force, we were fure of more
Refiflance from them •, and fecondly, becaufe we
found the Engttjfi Ships l^ad iefs Booty when taken ;
fox tjie Spani0rd.s generally had Moiiey on boardj^
and
( '8^ )
and that was what we beft knew what to do with.
Captain Wilmot was indeed n^ore particularly
cruel when he took any JEw^///?; VefTe I, that they
might not too (bon have Advice of him mEngland^
and fo the Men of War have Orders to look out
for him. But this Part I bury in Silence for the
prefent.
We encreafed our Stock in thele two Years
confiderably, having taken 60000 Pieces of Eight
in one VelTel, and 1 00000 in another •, and being
thus firft grown rich, we refolved to be ftrong
too j for we had taken a Br i^antine built at Flrgi*
nUj^ an excellent Sea Boat, and a good Sailer, and
^le to carry twelve Guns •, and a large Spamjh
Friga^-built Ship, that failed incomparably well
alio, and which afterwards, by the Help of good
Carpenters, we fitted up to carry twenty eight
Guns. And now we wanted more Hands, fb we
put away for the Bay of Camfcachy^ not doubting
we fhould fhip as many Men there as we plea-
fed, and fo we did.
Here we fold the Slcfcp that I was in \ and
Captain Wilmot keeping his own Ship, I took the
Command of the Sfanijlj Frigat, as Captain, and
my Comrade Harris as eldeft Lieutenant, and a
bold enterprizing Fellow he was as any the World
afforded. One Culver dine was put into the Brigan-
tine, fb that we were now three ftout Ships, well
MannM, and ViO:ualled for twelve Months ; for
we had taken two or three Sloops from New-Eng-
land and NeW'Torl^ ioaden with Flour, Peafe,
and Barrell'd Beef, and Pork, going for Jdmaica
and Berhadoes ^ and for more Beef we went on
Shore on the Ifle of Cuba j where we killed as many
bltick Cattel as we pleafed, tho' we had very little
^ oait to cure them.
Out
( lU )
Out of all the Prizes we took here, we took
their Powder and Bullet, their fmall Arms and
CutlafTes ^ and as for their Men, we always took
the Surgeon and the Carpenter, as Perfons who
were of particular Ufe to us upon many Occafi-
ons ; nor were they always unwilling to go with
nSy tho' for their own Security, in Cafe of Acci-
dents, they might eafily pretend they were car-
ried away by Force, of which 1 fhall give a plea-
fant Account in the Courfe of my other ExpC"
ditions.
We had one very merry Fellow here, a Qua^
ler, whofe Name was William Walters^ whom w^
took out of a Sloop hound from Tenfilvania to
Berhadoes. He was a Surgeon, and they called
him Doctor ^ but he was not employed in the
Sloop as a Surgeon, but was going to Berhadoes
to get a Birth^ as the Sailors call it. However,
be had all his Surgeon's Cheft on board, and we
made him go with us, and take all his Implements
with him. He was a coniick Fellow indeed, a
Man of very good lolid Senfe, and an excellent
Surgeon •, but what was worth all, very good hu-
mour'd and pleaiant in his Converilttion, and a
bold, iloutj brave Fellow too, as any we had
among us.
I found WiRiam^ as I thought, not very averfe
to go along with us, and yet refolved to do it
ib, that it might be apparent he was taken away
by Force \ and to this Purpofe he comes to me.
Friend, fays he, thou iiiyeft I mufl go with thee,
TivA it (s not in my Power to refft thee, if I
would; but I defirethou wilt oblige the Mafter
of the Sloop which I am on board, to certify un-
der his Hand that I was taken away by Force,
and againfl my Will % and this he faid with fo
mucji
( 18?)
much Satisfaftion in his Face, that I could not
but underftand him. Ay, ay, fays /, whether
it be apinft your Will, or no, I'll make him and
all the Men give you a Certificate of it, or I'll take
them all along with us, and keep them till they
do : So I drew up the Certificate my felf, where*
in I wrote that he was taken away by main Force,
as a Prifoner, by a Pyrate Ship \ that they carried
away his Cheft and Inftruments firfl', and then
bound his Hands behind him, and forced him
into their Boat^ and this was figned by the Ma-
fier and all his Men.
Accordingly I fell a fwearing at him, and cal-
led to my Men to tye his Hands behind him, and
lb we put him into our Boat, and carry'd him
away. When I had him on board, 1 called him
to me : Kow, Friend, fays I, I have brought you
away by Force, it is true, but I am not of the
Opinion I have brought you away fo much againft
your Will as they imagine : Come, fays I, you
will be a ufeful Man to us, and you iliall have ve-
ry goodUfage among us ', fo I unbound his Hands,
and ftrft ordered all things that belonged to hint
to be reftored to him, and our Captain gavje
him a Dram.
Thou haft dealt friendly by me, fiys he, and
ril be plain with thee, wliether I came willingly
to thee, or not : I ihall make my felf as ufefu).
to thee as I can •, but thoa knoweft it is not
my Bufniefs to meddle when thou art to fight.
Ko, no, fays the Captain, but you may meddle a
little when we fliare the Money. Thofe things
are uleful to furnifh a Surgeon's Cheft , fays
William^ and fmiled^ but I ftiall be moderate.
In ftiort, William \v2LS a moft agreeable Compa-
nion, but he had the better of us in this Part,
that
( i88 ;
that, if we were taken , we were fure to be
hang'd, and he was fure to efcape ^ and he knew
it well enough : But in iliort he was a iprightly
Fellow, and fitter to be Captain than any of
IIS. 1 fliall have often an Occafion to Ipeak of
him in the reft of the Story.
Our Cruifing fb long in thefe Seas began now
to be ib well known, that not in England only,
but in France and Sfain^ Accounts had been made
publick of our Adventures, and many Stories told
how we murthered the People in cold Blood,
tying them Back to Back, and throwing them in-
to the Sea ; one Half of which however was not
true, tho' more was done than it is fit to Ipeak
of here.
The Confequence of this however was, that
feveral Englljh Men of War were lent to the
Weft Indies^ and were particularly inftrufted to
cruize in the Bay of Mexico^ and the Gulph of
Florida^ and among the Bahama Iflands, if poffi-
ble, to attack us.
We were not fo ignorant of things, as not to
expeit this, after fo long a Stay in that Part of
the World ^ but the firft certain Account we had
of them, was at the Honduras^ when a Veilel co-
ming in from Jamaica^ told us, that two Englijh
Men of War were coming direftly from Jamaica
thither, inQueft of us. W^e were indeed as it were
embay'd, and could not have made the leaft Shift
to have got off, if they had come directly to us;
but as it happenM;» fome body had informed them
that we were in the Bay of Campeachy, and they
went direftly thither , by which we were not
only free of them, but were fo much to the
Windward of them, that they could not make
any
( i89 )
any Attempt upon us, tho' they had known we
were there.
We took this Advantage, and flood away for
CarthagenUy and from thence with great Difficulty
beat it up at a Dlftance from under the Shore for
St. MarthAy till we came to theDutch Ifland ofCurafoe^
and from thence to the Ifland of Tobago-^ which, as
before, was our Rendezvous ^ which being a deler-
ted uninhabited Ifland, we at the fame time made
ufe of for a Retreat : Here the Captain of the Sri-
gantine died, and Captain Harris at that time my
Lieutenant, took the Command of the Bri*
gantine.
Here we came to a Refblution, to go away to
the Coaft of Brafd^ and from thence to the Cape
of Good Hofe^ and fo for the Eaft-Indies : But
Captain Harris^ as I have laid, being now Cap-
tain of the Brigantiney alledged that his Ship
was too fmall for fo long a Voyage^ but that if
Captain Wilmot would conlent, he would take
the Hazard of another Cruize, and he would fol-
low us in the firfl Ship he could take : So we
appointed our Rendezvous to be at MadagafcoTy
which was done by my Recommendation of the
Place, and the Plenty of Provifions to be had ,
there.
Accordingly he went away from us in an evil I
HouTy for inftead of taking a Ship to follow us,
he was taken, as I heard afterwards, by an Englijh
Man of War, and being laid in Irons, died ot
meer Grief and Anger before he came to England:
His Lieutenant, I have heard, was afterwards exe-
cuted in England for a Pyrate, and this wa^ the
End of the Man who firft brought me into this
unhappy Trade.
We
( t90 )
We parted from Tobago three Days nfter, beiid-^
ing our Courfe for the Coaft o^ Braftly but had
not been at Sea above Twenty Four Hours,
when we were feparated by a terrible Storni^
which held three Days, with very little Abate-
ment or Intermiilion. In this Juncture, Captain
Wilmot happened unluckily to be on board my
Ship, very much to his Mortification^ for we
not only loft Sight of his Ship, but never faw
her more, till we came to Madag^ar^ where
ihe was caft away. In fhort, after having in this
Tempeft loft our Fore-Top Maft,we v/ere foi'ce^
to put back to the Ifle of Tobago for Shelter,
and to repair our Damage, which brought us all
very near our Deflruclion.
We were no Iboner on Shore here, and all very
buly looking out for a Piece of Timber for a
Top-Maft, but we perceived ftanding in for the
Shore, an EngUPi Man of War of Thirty fix
Guns : It was a great Surprize to us indeed, becaufe
we were difabled ^o much, but to our great good
Fortune we lay pretty fnug and dole among the
high Rocks, and the Man of War did not fee us^
but ftood off again upon his Cruife^ fb we only
obierved which Way ilie went, and at Night
leaving our W^ork, reiblved to ftand off to Sea,
fcecring contrary Way from that which we
obferved flie went. And this we found had
the defired Succefs, for we faw him no more:
We had gotten an old Mizen Top-Maft on board,
which made us a Jury Fore-Top-Maft for the
prefent, and fo we ftood away for the Ifle Tri-
^idad^ where, though there were Spamard^ on
Shoi*e, yet we landed fome Men with our Boat,
and cut a very good Piece of Fir to make us a
new
( ^91 )
View Top-Maflj^ivhlch we got fitted up effeftually,
aiicl alio we got feme Cattle here to eke out our
Provifions, and calling a Council of War among
our leives, we refolved to quit thofe Seas for the
prefent, and fteer away for the Coaft of Brafit,
The firft thing we attempted here, was only
getting freih Water:, but we learnt, that there
lay the Tortuguefe Fleet at the Bay of All-Saints^
bound for XfVW, ready to fall, and only waite '
for a fair Wind^ this made us lye by, wiihing to
fee them put to Sea, and acccvrdingly as they
v/ere, with, or without Convoy, to attack or avoid
them.
It fprung up a frefh Gale in the Evenina:, at
S. W. by W. which being fair for the Portugal Fleet,
and the Weather pleafant and agreeable, we
heard the Signal given to unmore, and running
in under the Illand of Si we hauled our
Main-Sail and Fore-Sail up in the Brails, lowered
the Top-Sail upon the Cap, and clewed them up
that we might lye as fnug as we could, expeO:-
ing their coming out^ and the next Morning
law the whole Fleet come out accordingly, but
not at all to our Satisfaction, for they confifted of
Twenty fix Sail, and moftof them Ships of Force,
as well as Burthen, both Merchant Men and Men
of War ♦, fo feeing there was no meddling, we lay
ftill where we was alfo, till the Fleet was out ot
Sight, and then ftood off and on, m hopes of meet-
ing with further Purchafe.
It was not long before we faw a Sail, and Im-
mediately gave her Chafe, but fhe proved an ex-
cellent Sailer, and ftanding out to Sea, we faw
plainly (he trufted to her Heels, that is to fay, to
her Sails ♦, however, as we were a clean Ship we
gained upon her, tho' flow ly, and had we had a
Day
( »92 )
Day before us, we iliould certainly have come
up with her, but it grew dark apace, and in that
Ca(e we knew we ihould lofe Sight of her.
Our merry Quaker perceiving us to crowd
ftill after her in the Dark, wherein we could
not fee which way ihe went,, come very drily to
me •, FnVw^ Singleton, fays he, doefi thee kmi^ what
we are a doing? Says I, yes^ why we are chafwg yon
Ship J are we not ? And how dofi thou hnowthat^ lays
he very gravely ftill? Nay^ that is t rue ^ izys I
again, we cannot he fare, Tes Friend^ fays he, /
think we may he fure that we are running away from
hery not chafing her. I am afraidy adds he, thou art
turned Quaker^ and hafi refohed not to ufe the Hand
tf Tower ^ or art a Coward^ and art flying from thy
inemy.
What do you mean^ fiiys I, I think I fwore at him;
what doye fneer at now f you have always one dry Rub or
another to give us,
Nayy lays he, it'^s flain enough ^ the Ship flood off
to Sea, due Eafl on purpofe to lofe us, and thou may fl
he fure her Buflnefs does not lie that Way\ for wha t
fjouldjhe do at the Coafl of Africa in this Latitude,
which would be as far South as Congo or Angola ; hut
as foon as it is dark, that wejhall lofe Sight of her, (he
will tack and fland away Wefl again for the Brafil
Coafl, and for the Bayy where thou knowefl floe was going
before-, and are not we then a running away from her?
I am greately in hopes, Friend, fays the dry gibtng
Creature, Thou wilt turn Quaker, for I fee thou
art not for Fighting.
Very well WILLIAM, fays I, then I fljallmake an
excellent Pyrate. However, William was in the right,
and I apprehended what he meant immediately,
and Captain Wilmot, who lay very fick in his Ca-
bin, overhearing us, underftood him as well as
I^and
( »9? )
I, and called out to me, that William xvas right,
and it was our beft Way to change our Courfe,
and ftand away for the Bay, where it was Ten
to one but we ihould fnap her in the Morning.
Accordingly, we went about fnip, got our
Larboard Tacks on board, fet the Top-gallant
Sails, and crowded for the Bay of All-Saints^
where we came to an Anchor, early in the Morn-
ing juft out of Gun Shot of the Forts ^ we furl'd
our Sails with Rope-Yarns, that we might haul
home the Sheets without going up to looie them,
and lowering our Main and Fore-Yards, looked
juft as if we had lain there a good while.
In two Hours after, we law our Game, fend-
ing in for the Bay with all the Sail fhe could make,
and ihe came innocently into our very Mouths,
for we lay ft ill, till we faw her almoft within
Gun Shot; when our Fore Maft Geers being
ftretched fore and aft, we firft run up our Yards,
and then hauled home the Top-Sail Sheets •, the
Rope-Yarns that furled them giving Way oi
themfelves, the Sails v/ere let in a few Minutes ;
at the fame time flipping our Cable, we came
upon her before flie could get under Way upon
'tother Tack: They were fo furprized, that they
made little or no Refiftance, but flruck after the
firft Broad-Side.
We were confidering what to do with her,
when WiHiam came to me. Hark thee Friend^ lays
he, thou haft made a fine SfotofWcrk of it now j hafl
thou not f 'To borrow thy Neighbour s Ship here^ jufir at
thy Neighbour s Door^ and -never nsk him Leave ♦, novo
dofl thou not think there are form Men of War in the
Porty thou hafh given them the Alarm fuffidently ;
thou will hopje them upon thy Bach before Nighty depend
upon it^ to ask thee, where fore y Thou dififo i
O Truly
/ 1^4- )
Trz//y Wlllmm, i'didlyforought J hww^ that may
he true : Jfl^at thrrjjljall ive do next ? Says he, thou haft
but two Thirjgs to do^ cither go in and take all the refly or
dfe get thee gone before they come out^ and take thee ^ for
J fee they are hoifting aTo^-Adaft to yon great Shipy in
order to put to Sea immediately ^ and they wont he long
before they come to talk with thee ^ and what wilt thou
fay to them, when they ask thee why thou borrowedft their
Ship without Leave ?
As William faid, lb it was, we could fee by our
Glalfes that they were all in a Hurry, manning
and fitting fome Sloops they had there, ?nd a large
Man of War, and it was plain they would fbon
be with us;, but we were not at a Lofs what to
clo; we found the Ship we had taken was loaden
with nothing confiderable for our Pi^rpole, except
fbme Cocoa, Ibme Sugar, and Twenty Barrels of
Plower % the reft of her Loading was Hides ^ ib
we took out all we thought for our Turn, and
among the reft all her Ammunition, great Shot,
and Imall Arms, and turned her off;, we alfo
took a Cable and three Anchors ftie had, which
were for our Purpofe, and fome of her Sails ^
ihe had enough left juft to carry her into Port,
and that was all.
Having done this, we ftood on upon the Brafd
Coaft, Southward, till we came to the Mouth of
the River Janiero : But as we had two Days the
Wind blowing hard at S. E. and S. S. E. we
were obliged to come to an Anchor under a little
Ifland, and wait for a Wind. In this time the
Tortnguefe had it feems given Kotice over Land to
the Governour there, that a Pyrate was upon
the Coaft • fo that when we came in View of the
Fort, we faw two Men of War riding juft
without the Bar, v/hereof 6\\Q_ \vq found was
get-
( ^95 )
getting under Sail with all poilible Speed, having
flipt her Cable, on purpofe to fpeak with us;
the other was not fb forward, but was preparing
to follow : In lefs than an Hour they ftood both
fair after us, with all the Sail they could make.
Had not the Night come' on, Williams Words
had been made good^ they would certainly
have asked us the Q_uefl:ion what we did there ?
tor we found the tbremoft Ship gained upon us
efpecially upon one Tack*, fnr we plied away
from them to Windward, but in the Dark lofm--^
Sight of them, we refolved to change our Courlk
and ftand away direftly to Sea, not doubting but-
we fhould lofe them la the Night*
W^hether the Portuguefe Commander gue^ed
we would do lb or no, I know not-, but in the
Morning when the Day-light appeared, inftead
of having loil him, we found him in Chafe of us
about a League a-Stern ; ojaly to our great good
Fortune we could fee but one of the two; how-
ever this one was a great Ship, carried fix and
forty Guns, and an admirable Sailer, as 3ppeared
by her out-faih'ng us^ for our Ship was an excel-
lent Sailer too, as I have fa id before.
When I found this, I eafily faw there was no
Remedy, but we mui^ engage ; and as we knew
we could expe£t no Quarters fromthofe Sroun*^
drels the Portuguefe^ a Nation I had an original
Averfion to, 1 let Captain Wllmot know how-
it was. The Captain, fick as he was, jumped
up in the Cabin, and would be led out upon the
Deck, for he was very weak, to fee how it was •
well, fays /?f, we'll fight them.
Our Men were all in good heart before, but to
lee the Captain fo brisk who had lain ill of a Ca-
lenture Tenor Eleven Days, gave them double'
O 2 Coil*
( 196)
Courage, and they went all Hands to work to
make a clear Ship and be ready. William the
Quaker comes to me with a kind of a Smiley
Friend, liiys he, what does yon Ship follow us
for? Why lays I, to fight us you may be fure^ »
Well, fays he, and will he come up with us doft
thou think? Yes, faidi, you fee Ihe will. Why
then, Friend, fays the dry Wretch, why doft thou
run from her ft ill, when thou feeft ftie will over*
take thee? Will it be better for us to be over-
taken further off than here? Much at one for
that, fays I ^ why what would you have us do?
Do ! fays he, let us not give the poor Man more
Trouble than needs muft^ let us ftay for him, and
hear what he has to lay to us *, he will talk to us
in Powder and Ball faid I : Very well then, fays he
if that be his Country Language, we muft talk
to him in the fame, muft we not? Or elfe how
ihall he underftand us? Very well William^ lays
I, we underftand you ; and the Captain as ill as
he was, called to me, William^s right again, fays he,
as good here as a League further-, fo he gives
a Word of Command, Haul up the Main'Sail^ we'll
ihorten Sail for him.
Accordingly we ihortened Sail; and as we
expelled her upon our Lee Side, we being then
upon our Starboard Tack, brought 1 8 of our Guns
to the Larboard Side, relblving to give him a
Broad-Side that fhould warm him *, it was about
half an Hour before he came up with us, all which
time we luffed up, that we might keep the
Wind of him, by which he was obliged to run up
under our Lee, as we deligned him; when we
got him upon our Quarter we edg'd down, and
received the Fire of ^-^q or fix of his Guns ; by
this time you may be fure all our Hands were at*'
their
( ^91 )
th^r Quarters, fo we clapt our Helm hard 4
Weather^ let go the Lee Braces of the Main Top-
fail, and laid it a-back, and fo our Ship fell athwart
the Portuguefe Ship's Hawfe ^ then we immediately
poured in our Broad-Side, raking them fore and
aft, and killed them a great many Men.
The Portuguefe^ we could fee were in the ut-
moft Confufion-, and not being aware of our De-
fign, their Ship having freih Way, run their
Boltfprit into the fore Part of our main Shrouds,
as that they could not eafily get clear of us, and(b
we lay locked after that Manner, the Enemy could
not bring above five or fix Guns, befides their
Small-Arms, to bear upon us, while we played
our whole Broadfide upon him.
In the middle of the Heat of this Fight, as I
was very bufy upon the Quarter Deck, the Cap-
tain calls to me, for he never ftirred from us,
what the Devil is^viendlVUllam a-doing yonder,
fays the Captain, has he any Bufmefs upon Deck ?
I ftept forward, and there was 'FY'iendlVilHam with
two or three flout Fellows lafhing the Ships Bolt-
fprit faft to our Main-Maft, for fear they ihould get
av/ay from us ^ and every now and then he pulled a
Bottle out ot his Pocket and gave the Men aDram to
encourage them. The Shot flew about his Ears as
thick as may be fuppofed in fuch an Adion, where
the Portuguefe^ to give them their due, fought very
briskly, believing at firft they were fure of their
Game, and trufting to their Superiority ^ but there
was WilUamy as compofed, and in as perfect Tran-
quillity as to Danger, as if he had been over a
Bowl of Punch, only very bufy fecuring the Mat-
ter, that a Ship of Fourty fix Guns ihould not run
away from a Ship of Eight and Twenty.
O 3 Th«
(198)
This y/ork was too hot to hold long; our Men
behaved bravely; our Gunner, a gallant Man,
inouted below, pourinj^ in his Shot at fuch a
Rate, thnt the Tortugucfe began to flacken their
F^re; we had difmounted feveral of their Guns
by firing in at their Forecaftle, and raking them,
^ ^ laid, fore and aft ; and prefently comes William
lip to me ; Friend fays he, very calmly. What
doefl thou mean ? Whv dofi thou not vifit thy Neighbour
in the Ship^ the Door being of en for thee ? I under ftood
him immediately, for our Guns had fb tore their
Hull, that we had beat two Port Holes into one,
and the Bulk Head of their Steerage was fplit
to Pieces, that they could not retire to their dole
Quarters; lb I gave the Word immediately to
board them. Our Second Lieutenant, with about
Thirty Men, entered in an Inftant over the Fore-
caftle, followed by fom^ more, with the Boat-
Iwain, and cutting in Pieces about Twenty five
Men that they found upon the Deck, and then
throwing fome Grenadoes into the Steerage, they
entered there alio; upon which the Portuguefe
cried Quarter prefently, and we mattered the
Ship, contrary indeed to our own Expe£lation;
for we would have compounded with them, if
if they would have fueercd off, but laying them
athwart the Hawfe at fir ft, and following our
Fire furiouily, without giving them any time to
get clear of us, and work their Ship, by this
means, tho' they had iix and forty Guns, they
were not able to Fij^ht above five or fix, as I faid
above, for we beat them immediately from their
iGuns in the Forecaflle, and killed them Abun-
dance of Men between Decks, fo that when we
entered they had hardly found Men enoueh to
fight us Hand to Hand upon their Deck.
The
{ ^99 )
The Surprize of Joy, to hear die Tortugtiefe
cry Quarter, and fee their Antient ftruck, was
lb great to our Captain, who as 1 have laid, was
reduced very weak with a high Fever, that it
gave him new Life:;, Kature conquered the Di-
flemper, and the Fever abated that very Night :
So that in two or three Dftys he was fenfibly bet-
ter, his Strength began to come, and he was able
to give his Orders elfedually in every thing that
was material, and in about ten Days was entirely
well, and about the Ship.
In the mean time, I took PofTeilion of the Port^-
guefe Man of War, and Captain Wilmot made me,
or rather I made my felf, Captain of her for the
prefent;, about Thirty of their Seamen took Ser-
vice with us, fojne of which were French^ Ibme
Genoefes^ and we let the reft on Shore the next
Day, on a little Iiland on the Coaft of Brafil^ ex-
cept Ibme wounded Men who were not in a Con-
dition to be removed^ and whom we were bound to
keep on board, but we had an Occalion afterwards
to difpofe of them at the Cape, where at their
own Requeft we fet them on Shore.
Captain Wllmoty as loon as the Ship was taken,
and the Prifoners flowed, was for ftanding in
for the River "Janiero again, not doubting but we
ihould meet with the other Man of War, who
not having been able to find us, and having loft
the Company of her Comrade, would certainly
be returned, and might be fur prized by the Ship
we had taken, if we carryed fortugu£fQ Colours,
and our Men were all for it. ■
But our Friend William gave us bettor Counlel;
for he came to me. Friend, fays he, I under ftand
the Captain is for failing back to the RIq J^mcr^.,
O 4 ill
( 200 )
in Hopes to meet with the other Ship that was
in Chaie of thee yefterday ^ is it true, doll: thou
intend it ? Why, yes, fays I, Willianty pray why
not ? Nay, fays he^ thou mayft do To if thou
wilt. Well, I know that too, Williamy faid I ^
but the Captain is a Man will be ruled by Rea-
ibn ; what have you to fay to it ? Why, fays
William gravely, I only ask what is thy Bufinefs,
and the Bufinefs of all the People thou haft with
thee ? Is it not to get Money ? Yes, William^ it is
iby in our honeft \A/ay : And wouldft thou, fays
he, rather have Money without Fighting, or
Fighting without Money ? I mean, which wouldft
thou have by Choice, fuppofe it to be left to
the^ ? O William^ fays /, the firft of the two, to
be fure. Why then, fays he, what great Gain
haft thou made of the Pnz,e thou haft taken now,
tho' it has coft the Lives of thirteen of thy
Menj befides ibme hurt? It is true, thou haft
got the Ship and fomePrifoners, but thou wouldft
have had twice the Booty in a Merchant Ship,
with not one Quarter of the Fighting ^ and how
doft thou know either what Force, or what Num-
ber of Men may be in the other Ship, and what
Lofs thou mayft fuffer, and what Gain it fhall be
to thee, if thou take her ? I think indeed thou
mayft much better let her alone.
Why, William^ it is true faid I, and Til go tell
the Captain what your Opinion is, and bring
you Word what he fays. Accordingly I went
to the Captain, and told him Williams Reafons,
and the Captain was of his Mind, that our Bufi-
r.^fs was indeed Fighting when we could not help
it, but that our main Affair was Money, and
that with as few Blows as we could •, fo that Ad-
venture was laid afide, and we ftood along Shore?
aggin
( ^oi )
again South, for the River de la Plata^ expe£Ving
fbme Purchafe thereabouts ; efpecially we had '
our Eyes upon Ibme of the Spanlpi Ships from the
Bruenos Ayresy which are generally very rich in
Silver, and one fuch Prize would have done our
Bufinefs. We ply'd about here in the Latitude
of South for near a Month, and no-
thing offer'd ^ and here we began to confult what
we fhould do next, for we had come to no Relb-
lution yet. Indeed my Defign was always for the
Cape de Bona Speranza, and fo to the Eajl Indies.
I had heard ibme flaming Stories of Captain ^zr^ry,
and the fine things he had done in the Indiesj
which were doubled and doubled even Ten Thou-
fand-fold, and from taking a great Prize in the
Bay of Bengal^ where he took a Lady laid to be
the Great MoguPs Daughter, with a great Quan-
tity of Jewels about her. We had a Story told
us, that he took a Mcgul Ship, fb the fooliih Sai-
lors called it, loaden with Diamonds.
I would fain have had Friend Williams Advice,
whither we fhould go, but he klways put it off
with ibmt Quahng QmhhlQ or other. In fhort,
he did not care for direfting us neither ^ whether
he made a Piece of Confcience of it, or whether
he did not care to venture having it come againfl
him afterwards, or no, this I know not \ but we
concluded at laft without him.
We were however pretty long in relblving,
and hanker'd about the Rio de la Plata a long
time ♦, at laft we fpy'd a Sail to Windward, and
it was fuch a Sail as I believe had not been feen in
that Part of the World a great while ; it wanted
jiot that we fhould give it Chafe, for it flood di-
reftly towards us, as well as they that fleer'd
could make it ^ and ^ven that was more Accident
of
( 202 )
of Weather than any thing elfe : For if tlie Wind
had chopt about any where, they muft have gone
with it. I leave any Man that is a Sailor, or un-
derftands any thing of a Ship, to judge what a
Figure this Ship made when we firft faw her,
and what we could imagine was the Matter with
her. Her Main Top-Mafl: was come by the Board,
about fix Foot above the Cap, and fell forward,
the Head of the Top-gallant Maft, hanging in
the Fore Shrouds by the Stay •, at the fame time
the Pareil of the Mizen Topfail Yard, by
fome Accident giving Way , the Mizen Top-
fail Braces (the ftanding Part of which being
fafl to the Main Topfail Shrouds) brought the
Mizen Topfail, Yard and all, down with it,
which fpread over Part of the Quarter Deck like
an Awning : The Fore-Topfaif was hoifted up
two Thirds of the Maft, but the Sheets were
flown. . The Fore Yard was lowered down upon
the Forecaftle, the Sail loofe, and Part of it
hanging over-board. In this Manner ihe came
down upon us with the Wind quartering: In a
Word, the Figure the whole Ship made, was the
moft confounding to Men that under ftood the Sea,
that ever was feen ^ fhe had no Boat, neither had
ihe any Colours out.
When we came near to her, we fired a Gun to
bring her to. She took no Notice of it, nor of
lis, but came on juft as ihe did before. We fired
again, but 'twas all one : At length we came with-
in Piftol Sliot of one another, but no body an-
fwered nor appeared ♦, fo we began to think that
it was a Ship gone ailiore fomewhere in Diurefs,
and the Men having forfaken her, the high Tide
had floated her off to Sea. Coming nearer to her,
we run up along Side of In^r fo clofe, that we
could
( >o9 )
could hear a Noife within her, and fee the Mo-
tion of feveral People thro' her Ports.
Upon this we Mann'd our two Boats full of
Men, and very well armed, and ordered them to
board her at the fame Minute,* as near as they
could, and to enter one at her Fore-chains on one
Side, and the other a Mid-ihip on the other
Side. As foon as they came to the Ship's Side,
a furprizing Multitude of black Sailors, fuch
as they werCy appeared upon Deck, and in ihort,
terrify'd our Men fo much, that the Boat
which was to enter her Men in the Wafte,
flood off again, and durft not board her ; and
the Men that enter'd out of the other Boat,
finding the firft Boat, as they thought, beaten
pfF, and feeing the Ship full of Men, jump'd all
back again into their Boat, and put off, , not
knowing what the Matter was. TJpon this we
prepared to pour in a Broadfide upon her. But
our Friend Wiiliam fet us to Rights again here ;
fpr it leems he guels'd how it was Iboner than
we did, and coming up to me (for it was our
Ship that came up with her) Friend, fays he,
I am of Opinion thou art wrong in this Matter,
and thy Men have been wrong alfo in their Con-
dud : I'll tell thee how thou ihalt take this
Ship, without making ufe of thole things call'd
Guns. How can that be, Willi amy faid I ? Why,
faid he, thou may ft take her with thy Helm •
thou ieeft they keep no Steerage, and thou feeft
the Condition they are in *, board her with thy
Ship upon her Lee Quarter, and ib enter her
from the Ship : I am perf\vaded thou wilt take
her without Fighting, for there is fome Mifchief
hps befallen the Ship, which we know nothing
of ■
In
/
f
C 204 )
In a Word, it being a fmooth Sea, and little
Wind, I took his Advice, and lay'd her aboard.
Immediately our Men entred the Ship, where
we found a large Ship with upwards of 600 Ne-
groes, Men and Women, Boys and Girls, and not
one Chriftian, or white Man, on board.
I was ftruck with Horror at the Sight, for
immediately I concluded, as was partly the Cafe,
that thefe black Devils had got loofe, had mur*
thered all the white Men, and thrown them in-
to the Sea *, and 1 had no fooner told my Mind
to the Men, but the Thought of it fb enraged
them, that I had much ado to keep my Men
from cutting them all in Pieces. But IVilUam,
with many Perfwafions prevailed upon them,
by telling of them, that it was nothing but what,
if they were in the Negroes Condition, they
would do, if they could • and that the Negroes
had really the higheft Injuftice done them, to be
fcld for Slaves without their Confent ^ and that
the Law of Nature diftated it to them ^ that they
ought not to kill thein, and that it would be
wilfiil Murder to do it.
This prevailed with them, and cooled their
firft Heat ^ fo they only knock'd down twenty
or thirty of them, and the reft run aH down
between Decks, to their firft Places, believing,
as we fancy'd, that we were their firft Matters
come again.
It was a moft unaccountable Difficulty we had
next, for we could not make them underftand
one Word we faid, nor could we underftand one
Word our felves that they faid. We endea-
voured by Signs to ask them whence they came,'
but they could make nothing of it ^ we pointed
to the Great Cabin, to the Roundj^houfep to the
( ^o^ )
Cook-room, then to our Faces, to ask if they had
no white Men on board, and where they were
gone ? But they could not underftand what we
meant : On the other Hand, they pointed to our
Boat, and to their Ship, asking Queftions as well
as they could, and faid a Thoufand things, and
expreiredthemfelves with great Earneftnefs, but
we could not underftand a Word of it all , or
know what they meant by any of their Signs.
We knew very well they muft have been taken
on board the Ship as Slaves, and that it muft be
by fome European People too. We could eafily
fee that the Ship was a Diach-hmk Ship, but
very much alter'd, having been built upon, and
as we fuppofe, in France ^ for we found two or
three French Books on board, and afterwards we
found Clothes, Linnen, Lace, fome old Shoes,
and feveral other things : We found among the
Frovifions, fome Barrels of Injh Beef, fome New
foundtand Fifti, and feveral other Evidences that
there had been Chriftians on board, but law no
Remains of them. We found not a Sword, Gun,
Piftol, or Weapon of any kind, except fome
CutlafTes •, and the Negroes had hid them below
where they lay. We ask'd them what was be-
come of all the fmall Arms, pointing to our own,
and to the Places where thofe belonging to the
Ship had hung : One of the Negroes underftood
ane prefently, and beckon'd to me to come up
upon the Deck, where taking my Fuzee, which
1 never let go out of my Hand for fome time
after we had mafter'd the Ship ^ I fay, offering
to take hold pf it, he made the proper Motion of
throwing it into the Sea, by which I underftood,
as I did afterwards, that 'they had thrown all
the fmall Arms, Powder, Shot, Swords, &c. in-
to
( 206 )
to the Sen, believing, as I fuppofed, thofe things
would kill them, tho' the Men were gone.
After we underftood this, we made no Quefti-
on but that the Ship's Crew having been furpri-
zed by thele defperate Rogues, had gone the fame
Way, and had been thrown over-board alio. We
look'd all over the Ship, to fee if we could find
any Blood, and we thought we did perceive fbme
in feveral Places -^ but the Heat of the Sun melt-
ing the Pitch and Tar upon the Decks, made it
impofTible for us to difcern it exaftly, except in
the Round-houie, where we plainly faw that
there had been much Blood* We found the
Skuttle open, by which we fuppofed the Captain
and thofe that were with him had made their
Retreat into the Great Cabin, or thofe in the
Cabin had made their Efcape up into the Round-*
houfe.
But that which confirmed us mofl of all in
what had happen'd, was, that upon farther En-
quiry we found that there were ^Q^^^n or eight
of the Negroes very much wounded, two or
three of them with Shot ; whereof one had his
Leg broke^ and lay in a miferable Condition, the
Flefh being mortified, and, as our Friend William
faid, in two Days more he would have died.
William was a moft dexterous Surgeon, and he
fhew'd it in this Cure *, for tho' all the Surgeons
we had on board both our Ships (and we had no
lefs than five that cal led themfelves bred Surge-
ons, befides two or three who were Pretenders or
AfTifliants) and all thefe gave their Opinion that
X}[\^ Negroe's Leg muft be cut off, and that his
Life could not be faved without it *, that the
Mortification had touch'd the Marrow in the
Bone, that the Tendons were mortified, and that
he
C 2d7 ) ;
he could never have the U(e of his Leg, if ie
Should be cured. William faid nothing in gene-
ral, but that his Opinion was other wife, and that
he defired the Wound might be learchM, and
that he would then tell them farther- Accor-*
dingly he went to Work with the Leg, and, as
he defired he might have fbme of the Surgeons
to ailift him, we appointed him two of the ableft
of them to help, and all of them to look on, if
they thought fit.
William went to Work his own Way, and Ibme
of them pretended to find Fault at fir^. Howe-
ver, he proceeded, and fearchM every Part of
the Leg where he fufpeded the Mortification had
touch'd it : In a Word, he cut off a great deal
df mortified Flefh ; in all which the poor Fellow
felt no Pain. William proceeded till he brought
the VeiTe Is which he had cut to bleed, and the
Man to cry out : Then he reduced the Splinters
of the Bone, and calling for Help, fet it^ as we call
it^ and bound it up, and laid the Man to Reft,
who found himielf much eafier than before.
At the firft Opening, the Surgeons began to
trium.ph, th& Mortification leem'd to fpread, and
a long red Streak of Blood appeared from the
Wound upwards to the Middle of the Man's
Thigh, and the Surgeons told me the Man would
die in a few Hours. I went to look at it, and
found William himielf under feme Surprize ^ but
when I ask'd him how long he thought the poor
Fellow could live, he look'd gravely up at me,
and fiid, ^is long as thou ca^iflr : I am not at all
apprehenlive of Kis Life, faid he, but I would
cure him if I could, without making a Cripple of
him. I found he was not juii then upon the Ope-
ration, as to his Leg, but was mixing up Ibme-
thins^
( ao8 )
thing to give the poor Creature, to repel, as I
thought, the fpreadins; Contagion, and to abate
or prevent any feverifti Temper that might
happen in the Blood: After which he went to
Work again, and open'd the Leg in two Pla-
ces above the Wound, cutting out a great deal
of mortified Flefh, which it feems was occafio-
ned by the Bandage which had prefs'd the Parts
too much, and withal, the Blood bein^ at that
time in a more than common Difpofition to
mortify, might affift to fpread it.
Well, our Friend William conquerM all this,
clear'd the fpreading Mortification, that the red
Streak went off again, the Fleih began to heal,
and Matter to run • and in a few Days the Man's
Spirits began to recover, his Pulfe beat regular,
he had no Fever, and gathered Strength daily ;
and in a Word he was a perfe^: found Man in
alx)ut ten Weeks, and we kept him amongft us,
and made him an able Seaman. But to return
to the Ship, we never could come at a certain In-
formation about it, till fome of the Negroes which
we kept on board, and whom we taught to fpeak
Erjglifljy gave the Account of it afterwards, and
this maim'd Man in particular.
We enquired by all the Signs and Motions
we could imagine,' what was become of the Peo-
ple, and yet we could get nothing from them.
Our Lieutenant was for torturing fome of them
to make them confefs ^ but William oppofed that
vehemently ^ and when he heard it was under
Confideration, he came to me. Friend, fays he,
I make a Requeft to thee, not to put any of
thefe poor Wretches to Torment. Why, Willi-
am^ faid I, why not? You fee they will not give
any Account of what is become of the white
^ Men.
( 209 )
Men. Kay, fays William^ do not fay fo ; 1 fup-
pofe they have given thee a full Account of every
Particular of it. How ib^ fays I, pray what are
we the wifer for all their Jabbering ? Kay, fays
WilHam^ that may be thy Fault, for ought I
know :; thou wilt not punifh the poor Men be-
caule they cannot Ipeak EngUfliy and perhaps they
never heard a Word of EngUpi before. Kow f
may very well fuppofe, that they have given
thee a large Account of every thing ; for thou
feefl with what Earneftnefs, and how long fbme
of them have talk'd to thee, and if thou canfl
not underftand their Language, nor they thine,
hoiv can they help that ^ at the befl thou doefl
but fuppofe that they have not told thee the
whole Truth of the Story, and on the contrary
1 fuppofe they have, and how wilt thou decide
the Queflion, whether thou art right, or whether
I am right ? Befides, what can they fay to thee,
when thou askefl them a Queftion upon the Tor-
ture, and at the fame, time they do not under-
ftand the Queftion, and thou doeft not kno\7
whether they fay Ay ox No?
It is no Complement to my Moderation, to fay
I was convinc'd by thefe Reafbns ; and yet we
had all much ado to keep our fecond Lieute-
nant from murthering fome of them to make
them tell. What if they had told, he did noC
underfland one Word of it *, but he would not
be perfwaded but that the JSIegroes muft needs
underfland him, when he ask'd them, whether
the Ship had any Boat or no, like ours, and what
was become of it ?
But there was no Pvemedy tut to wait till
we made thefe People underfland Englijli •, and
t-i> adjourn the Story till that time. The Cafe was
P thus.
( '»o )
thus. Where they were token on board the
Ship, that we could never underftand, becau(e they
never knew the Evglljlj Names which we 2.ive to
thole Coafts, or what Nation they were who be-
Jong'd to the Ship, becaule they knew not one
Tongue from another • but thus far the Ke2;roe
I examined, who was the lame whofe Leg William
had cured, told us, that they did not Ipeak the
fame Language we fpoke, nor the fime our Tortw
gucz.e fpoke *, fo that in all Probability they muft
be French or Butch,
Then he told us, that the white Men ufed
them barbaroufly •, that they beat them unmer-
cifully ; that one of the Negroe Men had a Wife,
and two Negroe Children, one a Daughter about
fixt^en Years old ^ that a White Man abufed the
Kegroe Man's Wife, and afterwards his Daugh-
ter, which, as he fiid, made all the Negroe Men
mad^ and that the Woman^s Husband was in'a
great Rage, at which the White Man was fo pro-
voked, that he threatened to kill him ^ but in
the Night, the Negroe Man being loofe, got a
great Club, by which he made us underftand he
meant a Handfpike, and that when the flime
Frenchmm (if it was a Frenchman) came among
them again, he began again to abufe the Ne-
groe Man's Wife •, at which the Negroe taking
up the Handfpike, knock'd his Brains out at one
Blow, and then taking the Key from him with
which he ufually unlock'd the Hand-cuffs which
the Negroes were fetter'd with, he fet about a
Hundred of them at Liberty, who getting up
upon the Deck by the flime Skuttle that the
White Man came down •, and taking the Man's
Cutlafs who was killed, and laynig hold of what
came next theixi, they fell upon the Men that
were
were upon the Deck, and killed them all, rind
afterwards thofe they tbimd upon the Forecaftle *,
that the Captain and his other Men, who were
in the Cabin and the Round-houfe, defended
themfelve^; with great Courage, and ihot out at
the Loopholes at them, by which he and feveral
other Men were wounded, and fome killed ♦, but'
that they broke into the Round-houfe after a
loni^ Difpute, where they killed two of the
white Men, but own'd that the two white Men
killed eleven of their Men before they could
break in •, and then the reft having got down
the Skuttle into the Great Cabin, wounded three
more of them.
That after this, the Gunner of the Ship ha-
ving lecured himfelf in the Gun-room, one of
his Men haul'd up the Long-Boat clofe under
the Stern, and putting into her all the Arms
and Ammunition they could come at, got all in-*
to the Boat, and afterwards took in the Captain,
and thole that were with him, out of the Great
Cabin. When they were all thus embark'd, they
refolved to lay the Ship r.board again, and try to
recover it *, that they boarded the Ship in a de-
fperate Manner, and killed at firft all that ftood
in their Way •, but the Negroes being by this
time all loofe, and having gotten fome Arms,
tho' they underftood nothing of Powder and
Bullet, or Guns-, yet the Men could never ma-
iler them. However, they lay under the Ship's
Bow, and got out all the Men they had left in the
Cook-room, who had maintained themfelves
.there, notwithftanding all the Negroes could do,
and with their fmall Arms, killed between thirty
and forty of the Negroes, but were at laft forc'd
to leave them.
P 2 They
They could give me no Account whereabouts
this was, whether near the Coaft of j^frlcJi^ or
far off, or how long it was before the Ship fell
into our Hands*, only in general, it was a great
while ago, as they called it^ and by all we could
learn, it was within two or three Days after they
had fet Sail from the Coaft. They told us, that
they had killed about thirty of the white Men,
having knock'd them on the Head with Crows and
Hand-fpikes, and fuch things as they could get;
and one ftrong Kegroe killed three oif them with
an Iron Crow, after he was ihot twice thro' the
Body, and that he was afterwards ihot thro' the
Head by the Captain himfelf at the Door af
the Round-houfe, which he had fplit open with
the Crow ^ and this we fuppofe was the Occa-
fion of the great Quantity of Blood which we
law at the Round-houfe Door.
The lame Negroe told us, that they threw all
the Powder and Shot they could find, into the
Sea, and they would have thrown the great Guns
into the Sea, if they could have lifted them-.
Being ask'd how they came to have their Sails
in fuch a Condition, his Anfwer was, they m un^
derflandj they no know what the Sails do ^ that was^
they did not fo much as knaw that it was the
Sails that made the Ship go ^ or under ftand what
they meant, or what to do with them. When
we asked him whither they were going, he faid,
they did not know, but believed they fhould go
Home to their own Country again. I asked
him in particular, what he thought we were,
when we came firft up with them ? He faic^
they were terribly frighted, believing we were
the fame white Men. that had goneaway in their
Bop.t?^ and were come again in a great Ship, with
the-
(^^3 ),
tlie two Boats with them, and expe^ed they
would kill them all.
This was the Account we got out of them,
after we had taught them to fpeak EngUjhy and
to underftand the Names and Ufe of the things
belonging to the Ship, which they had Occa-
fion to fpeak of, and we obferved that the Fel-
lows were too innocent to diilemble in their
Relation, and that they all agreed in the Par-
ticulars, and were always in the fame Story,
which confirm'd very much the Truth of what
they faid.
Having taken this Ship, our next Difficulty
was, what to do with the Negroes. The Portu-
^uez.e in the Brafils would have bought them all of
us, and been glad of the Purchafe, if we had
not fhew'd our felves Enemies there, and been
known for Py rates •, but as it was, we durft not
go on Shore any where thereabouts, or treat with
any of the Planters, becaufe we ihould raife the
whole Country upon us % and if there were any
fuch things as Men of War in any of their
Ports, we ihould be afifured to be attacked by
them, and by all the Force they had by Land
or Sea. ^
Nor could we think of any better Succefs,
if we went Northward to our own Plantations.
One while we determined to carry them all away
to the Buenos Ayres^ and fell tliem there to the
Spaniards '^ but they were really too many for
them to make Ufe of-, and to carry them round
to the South-Seas, which was the only Remedy
that was left, was fo far, that we ihould be
jio Way able to fubfift them for fo long a
Voyagep
P 3 At
( 214 )
At Infl, our Old never-failing Friend William
help'd us Our again, as he had often done, at
a Depd-iifc. 'Hi^ PropoIiO was this, that he
fhould go as Maflr- of the Ship, and about
twenty Men fuch as we could bell truft, and
atter-pt to t':ade privately upon the Coaft of
BrafJy with the Planters, not at the principal
Ports, becaufe that would not be admitted.
M'e all agreed to th^s, and appointed to go
away our felves towards the Bio de la Plata^ where
we had Thought of gohig before, and to wait
for him not there, but at Port St. Pedro , as the
Spaniards call it, lying at the Mouth o^ the Ri-
ver wh^'ch they call Rio Grande ^ and where the
Spaniards had a fmall Fort, and a few People,
but we believe there was no Body in it.
Here we took up our Station, cruiHng off and
on, to lee if we could meet any Ships going
to, or coming from the Buenos Ayres^ or the Rio
tie la Plata ^ but we met with nothing worth
ISIotice However, we employed our felves in
things neceffary for our going off to Sea-, for
"we filled all our V^ater Casks, and got fome Fiih
for our preient Ufe, to fpare as much as poili-
ble cur Sh'p's Stores.
William in the mean time went away to the
North, and made the Land about the Cape de
St. Thomas J and betwixt that and the liles de
lubercriy he found Means to trade with the Plan-
ters for all his Negroes, a^ well the Women as
the Men, and at a very good Price too \ for Willi'*
am J who fpoke Portif^uefe pretty well, told them a
fair Story enough, that the Ship was in Scarcity
of Provision r., rliat they were driven a great
Way out of their Way, and indeed, as we fay,
.out of their Knowledge, and that they muil: go
up
(^^5 )
up to the Northward as far ^s^Jajnalca^ or fell
there upon the Coaft. This was a very plau-
fible Tale, and was eafily believed ^ and if you
obferve the Manner of the Kegroes Sailing, and
what happened in their Voyage, was every \A/ord
of it true.
By this Method, and being true to one ano-
ther, WiUUm paft for what he was -^ I mean, for
a very honeft Fellow, and by AlTiftance o^^ one
Planter, vv^ho fent to fome of his Keie^hbour
Planters, and managed the Trade among them-
felves, he got a quick Market^ for in lefs than
iiveWeeks^ WJllam fold all his Negroes, and at
lail: fold the Ship it felf, and ihipp'd himlelf and
his twenty Men, and two Kegroe Boys whom he
had left, in a Sloop, one of tbofe which the Plan-
ters ufed to fend on board for the Negroes.
With this Sloop Captain William^ as we then cal-
led him, came away, and found us at Fort St. Pe-
iiroy in the Latitude of 32 Degrees, 30 Minutes
South.
Nothing was more fur prizing to us, than to
fee a Sloop come along the Coaft, carrying For-
tnguez^e Colours, and come in direAly to us, after
we were allured he had difcovered both our
Ships. We fired a Gun upon her nearer Ap-
proach, to bring her to an Anchor, but imme-
diately Ihe fired five Ginis by Way of Salute^
and fpread her Zngli^} Antient : Then we began
to guefs it was Friend Williamy but wondered
what was the Meaning of his being in a Sloop,
whereas we lent h'm away in a Ship of near
300 Tuns ^ but he foon let us hito the whole
Hiftory of his Management, with which we had
a great deal of Reafon to be very well fatisfy'd.
As foon as he had brought the Sloop to an An-
P 4 chor,^
( 2i6 ;
chor, he came aboard of my Ship, and tiiere
he ga\re us an Account liow he began to
trade, by the Help of a Voniiguez^e Planter,
who lived near the Sea-fide ^ how he went
on Shore, and went up to the firft Houfe he
could lee, and asked the Man of the Houfe to
fell him fome Hoggs, pretending at firft he on-
ly flood in upon the Coaft to take in frefh Wa-
ter, and buy fome Provifions ^ and the Man not
only fold him feven fat Hoggs, but invited him
in, and gave him and five Men he had with him,
a very good Dinner, and he invited the Planter
on board his Ship, and in Return for his Kind-
iiefs, gave him a Negroe Girl for his Wife.
This fo obliged the Planter, that the next
Morning he fent him on board, in a great
Luggage Boat, a Cow and two Sheep, with a
Chell: of Sweet-meats, and fome Sugar, and a
great Bag of Tobacco, and invited Captain WillUm
on Shore again : That after this, they grew from
one Kindnefs to another, that they began to talk
about Trading for fome Negroes \ and William
pretending it was to do him Service, contented
to fell him thirty Kegroes for his private Ufe
in his Plantation, for which he gave William
ready Money in Gold, at the Rate of five and
thirty Moydores p^r Read •, but the Planter was
obliged to ufe great Caution in the bringing them
on Shore : For which Purpole, he made William
weigh and ftand out to Sea, and put in again,
above fifty Miles fartjier Korth, where at a
little Creek he took the Kegroes on Shore at
another Plantation, being a Friend's of his whom
it feems he could trufl.
This Remove brought William into a farther In-
timacy, not only with the firll Planter, but alio
with
( ^^7 )
With his Friends, who defired to have fome of the
Negroes alio •, fo that from one to another, they
bought fo many, till one over-2;rown Planter took
loo Negroes, which was all William had left, and
Sharing them with another Planter, that other
Planter chaffer'd with William for Ship and all,
giving him in Exchange a very clean, large,
well-built Sloop of near fixty Tons, very v/ell
furniih'd, carrying fix Guns, but we made her
afterwards carry twelve Guns. William had 300
Moydores of Gold, befides the Sloop, in Payment
for the Ship, and with this Money, he ftored the
Sloop as full as ihe could hold with Provifions,
efpecially Bread, fome Pork, and about fixty
Hoggs alive : Among the reft, William got eighty
Barrels of good Gunpowder, which was very
much for our Purpofe, and all the Provifions
which were in the French Ship he took out alio.
This was a very agreeable Account to us, efpe-
cially when we law, that William had received hi
Gold coin'd, or by Weight, and fome Spanijh Sil-
ver, 60000 Pieces of Eight, bt lides a new Sloop,
and a vaft Quantity ot Provifions.
We were very glad of the Sloop in particular,
and began to confult what we fhould do, whe-
ther we had not beft turn off our great Vonugucfe
Ship, and ftick to our firft Ship and the Sloop,
feeing we had Icarce Men enough for all three,
and that the biggeft Ship was thought too big
for our Bufmefs ^ however, a-nother Difpute whicli
was now decided, brought the iirft to a Conclufion.
The firft Dilpute was, whither we fhould go? My
Comrade, as I called him now, that is to lay, he
that was my Captain before v/e took this fortu-
guefe Man of War, was for going to the South
Seas^ and coafting up the W^eft Side of America^
where
r ii8)
where we could not fail of making leveral good
Prizes upon the Spaniards and that then if Oc-
cafion required, we might come home by the
South-Seas to the Eaft-Indles and lb go round the
Globe as others had done before us.
But my Head lay another Way, I had been in
the Eaft'lndlesj and had entertained a Notion
ever fince that, that if we went thither we could
not fail of making good Work of it, and that we
might have a fafe Retreat, and goodBeef to Vi^l:ual
our Ship, among my old Friends the Natives of
Zamguehary on the Coaft of Mozambique, or the
Ifland of St. Laurence \l fay, my Thoughts lay this
Way andl read fo many Le^ures to them all, of the
Advantages they would certainly make of their
Strength, by the Prizes they would take in the
Gulph o^ Mocha or the Red-Sea, and on the Coaftof
Malabar ox the Bay o^ Bengal, that I amaz'dthem.
Withthefe Arguments 1 prevailed on them,
:ind we all refolved to fteer away S. E. for the
Cape o^ Good Hope ', and in Confequence of this
Relblution, we concluded to keep the Sloop, and
fail with all three, not dqubting, as 1 allured them,
but we ihould find Men there to make up the
Number wanting, and if not, we might caft any
of them off when we pleafed.
We could do no lefs than make our Friend
William Captain of the Sloop, which with fuch
good Management he had brought us. He told
us, tho' with much good Manners, he would
not command her as a Fregat, but if we would
give her to him for his Share of the Guinea Ship,
which we came very honeftly by, he would keep
us Company as a Victualler, if we commanded
him, as long ashe was under the fime Force
that took him away*
We
f ^»9 )
We underftood him, fo we gave lilm the Sloop,
but upon Condition that he fhould not go from
us, and fhould be entirely under our Command :
However, Willi am /-^vd.s not fo eafy as before ^ and
indeed, as we aftt. wards wanted the Sloop, to
cruife for Purchafe, and a Right thorow-paced
Pyrate in her ^ fo I was in fuch Pain for William^
that I could not be without him, for he was my
Privy-Counfellour andiCompanion upon all Oc-
cafions ^ fo I put a Scot [man ^ a bold enterp.-izing
gallant Fellow into her, named Gordon^ and made
her carry 12 Guns, and four Paterero's, though
indeed we wanted Men, for we were none of us
Mann'd in Proportion to our Force.
We failed away for the Cape of Good Hope^ the
, Beginning o^ Othohrr 1706, and pafled by in
Sight of the Cape, the 1 2 of November follow-
ing, having met with a great deal of bad Wea-
ther : We faw feveral Merchant » Ships in the
Road there, as well EngUjlj as Dutchy whether
outward bound or homeward we could not tell;
be it what it would^ we did not think fit to come to
an Anchor, not knowings what they might be,
or what they might attempt againft us, when
they knew what we were : However,"as we wanted
frefh Water, we fent the two Boats belonging to
the Vortnguefe Man of War, with all Vortuguefs
Seamen or Negroes in them, to the Watering
Place, to take in Water : And in the mean time
we hung out a Fortuguefe Antient at Sea, and lay by
all that Night. They knew not what we was,
but it feems wepaft for any thing but really what
we was.
Our Boats returning the third time loaden,
about five a Clock next Morning, we thought
our feives fuificiently water'd, ai;d flood away
to
( 710 )
to the Eaftwarcl^ but before our Men returned
the la ft time, the Wind blowing an ealy Gale at
Weft, we perceived a Boat in the Grey of the
Morning, under Sail, crowding to come up with
us, as if they v/ere afraid we fhould be gone.
We foon found it was an Engltjh Long-Boat, and
that it was pretty full of Men ^ we could not
imagine what the Meaning of it ihould be \ but
as it was but a Boat, we thought there could
be no great Harm in it to let them come on
board : And if it appeared they came only to
enquire who we were, we would give them a full
Account of our Bufmefs, by taking them along
with us, feeing we wanted Men as much as any
thing ^ but they faved us the Labour ©f being in
doubt how tOydilpofe of them, for it feems our «^
Tortuguefe Seamen who went for Water, had not
been fo filent at the Watering Place, as we
thought they would have been. But the Gale,
in ihort was this. Captain , / forbear
his Name at frefent, for a f articular Reaforiy Captain
of an Eafl India Merchant Ship, bound after-
wards for Chinay had found fome Reafbn to be
very fevere with his Men, and had handled fbme
of them very roughly at St. Helena ^ inlbmuch,
that they threaten^ among themlelves to leave
the Ship the firft Opportunity, and had long
wilh'd for that Opportunity: Some of thefe
Men, it leems, had met with our Boat at the Wa-
tering Place, and enquiring of one another who
we were, and upon what Account ^ whether the
Tortuguefe Seamen, by faultring in their Account,
made them fuipeft that we were out upon the
Cruile, or whether they told it in plain Englijhy
or no (for they all fpoke Endifh enough to be un-
derftood) but fo it was, tiaat as foon as ever the «
Men
("I )
Men carried the News on board, that the Ships
which lay by to the Eaftvvard were E^jrlijlj, and
that they were going upon the Account ^ which by
the Way was a Sea Term for a Pyrate ; I fay,
as fbon as ever they heard it, they went to worfc,
and getting all things ready in the Night, their
Chefts and Clothes, and whatever elfe they could,
they came away before it was Day, and came up
with us about feven a Clock.
When they came by the Ship's Side which I
commanded, we hailed them in the ufual Man-
ner, to know what and who they were, and
what their Buiineis ? They anfwered, they were
Bngli^merij and defired to come aboard : We told
them they might lay the Ship on board, but or-
dered they ihould let only one Man enter the
Ship, till the Captain knew their Bufinefs, and
that he fliould come without any Arms : They
faid Ay, with all their Hearts.
We prefently found their Bufinefs, and that
they defired to go with us; and as for their Arms,
they defired we would lend Men on board the
Boat, and that they would deliver them all to us,
which was done. The Fellow that came up to
me, told me how they had been ufed by their
Captain, how he had ftarved the Men, and uied
them like Dogs % and that if the reft of the Men
knew they Ihould be admitted, he was fatisfied
two Thirds of them would leave the Ship. We
found the Fellows were very hearty in their Re-
fblution, and jolly brisk Sailors they were ; fb I
told them I would do nothing without our Admi-
ral, that wfts, the Captain of the other Ship : So
I lent my Pinnace on board Captain Wilmoty to
defire him to come on board ^ but he was indilpo-
fed, and being to Leeward, exculed his coming,
but
( ail )
but left it all to me : But before my Boat wa<?
returned, Captain Wilmot called to me by his
Speaking Trumpet, which all the Men might
hear as well as I, thus, calling me by my Name,
/ hear they are honefl Fellows^ fray tell them they arc
all Tvelcomey and make them a Bowl of Punch.
As the Men heard it as well as I, there was
TiO need to tell them what the Captain faid ^ and
as ibon as the Trumpet had done, they fet up a
Huzza that ihewed us they were very hearty in
their commg to us ; but we bound them to us by
a Wronger Obligation ftill, after this : For when
we came to Madagafcar, Captain Wilmot^ with
Conient of all the Ship's Company, ordered that
thefe Men fhould have as much Money given
them out of the Stock, as was due to them for
their Pay in the Ship they had left •, and after
that, we allowed them Twenty Pieces of Eight
a Man Bounty Money : And thus we entred them
upon Shares, as we were all, and brave ftout Fel-
lows they were, being Eighteen in Number,
whereof two were Midilaip-Men, and one a Car-
penter.
It was the 28th of November ^ when having had
Ibme bad Weather, we came to an Anchor in ^he
Road off of St. Augufllne Bay, at the South Weil
End of my old Acquaintance the Ifle o^ Madagaf-
car: We lay here a while, and traffick'd with the
Natives for fome good Beef, tho' the Weather
was xo hot, that we could not promife our felves to
fait any of it up to keep •, but I ihewed them the
Way which we pra^tifed before, to lalt it firft
with Sah-Tctre^ then cure it, by drying it in the
Sun, which made it eat very agreeably, tho"* not
io wholefome for our Men, that not agreeing with
our Way of Cooking, viz.. Boiling with Pud-
ding.
( 5^3 )
ding, Brewes, &c, and particularly this Way
would be too fait, and the Fat of the Meat be
refty, or dry'd away, fo as not to be eaten. .
This however we could not help, and made
our lelves amends by feeding heartily on the frefh
Beef while we were there, which was excellent
good and fat, every Way as tender, and as well
reliihed as in England^ and thought to be much
better to us wlio had not tailed any in England for
fb long a Time.
Having now for fbme time remained here,
we began to conlider that this was not a Place fbr
Our Bufinefs •, and Ithat had ibme Views, a parti- j
cular Way of my own, told them, that this w?9 ,
not a Station for thofe that look'd for Purchafe^
that there were two Parts of the Ifland which
were particularly proper for our Purpoles ^ firfl
the Bay on the Eaft Side of the Ifland, and
from thence to the liland Mauritius^ which was
the ufual Way which Ships that came from the
Malabar Coaft, or the Coaft of Coromandel^ Fort
St, George J &c. ufed to take, and where, if wo
waited for them, we ought to take our Station.
But on the other Hand, as we did not refolve
to fall upon the European Traders, who were
generally Ships of Force, and well Manned, and
where Blows muft be looked for ^ fb I had an*
. other Profpe^t, which I promifed my felf would
yield equal Profit, or perhaps greater, without
any of the Hazard and Difficulty of the former,
and this was the Gulph of Mocha or the Re A
Sea.
I told them that the Trade here was great, the
Ships rich, and the Strei^to^ Bahelmandel narrow ;
fb that there was no cToubt but we might cruife
fo as to let nothing flip our Hands, having the
Seas
( ^H )
.Seas open from the Red Sea along the Coaft of
jirahiay to the Terftau Gulpli, and the Malabar Side
of the Indies.
I told them, what I had obferved when I fliiled
round the Illand, in my former Progrefs, how
that on the Korthmoft Point of the Ifland were
leveial very good Harbours, and Roads for our
Ships: That the Natives were even more civij,
and tradable, if poifible, than thofe where we
were, not having been ib often ill treated hy
European Sailors, as thofe had in the South and
Eaft Sides ^ and that we might always be fure of
a Retreat, if we were driven to put in by any Ne-
ceiHty, either of Enemies or of Weather.
They were eafily convinced of the Reafbnable-
nefs of my Scheme, and Captain Wllmotj whom
I now called our Admiral, tho' he was at firit
of the Mind to go and lye at the Ifland Mauritiusy
?.nd wait for fome of the European Merchant
L^hips from the Road of Coromandel^ Or the Bay
of Bengal^ was now of my Mind. It is true,
we were ftrong enough to have attacked an Eng^
Ifftj Eafi hdia Ship of the greateft Force, though
Ibme of them were faid to carry fifty Guns ; but
I reprefented to him, that we were lure to have
Blows, and Blood if we took them, and after
we had done, their Loading was not of equal
Value to us, becaule we had no room to dilpole
of their Merchandize : And as our Circumftances
flood, we had rather have taken one outward
bound Eafi India Ship, with her ready Cafli on
board, perhaps to the Vallue of forty or fifty
Thoufand Pound, than three homeward bound,
tliough their Loading would at London be worth
three times the Money % becaufe, we knew not
whither to go to difpofe of the Cargo j whereas
the
th^ Ships from London had Abundance of things
we knew how to make ule of, befides their Mo-
ney ^ fuch as their Stores of Proviiions, and Li-*
quors, and great Quantities of the like fent to
the Governours and Faftories at the Englifli Settle-*
ments, for their Ufe : So that if we refolved to
look for our own Country Ships, it fliould be
thofe that were outward bound, not the London
Ships homeward.
All thefe things confidered , brought the
Admiral to be of my Mind entirely ^ fo af-
ter taking in Water, and lome frefh. Provifi^
ons where we lay, which was near Cafe St. M.try^
on the South-NA^'eft Corner of the Ifland, we
weighed, and flood away South, and afterwards
S. S. E. to round the Ifland, and in about fix Days
Sail, got out of the Wake of the Ifland, and
ileer'd away Korth, till we came off of Von
Dauphin^ and then Korth by Eafl, to the Latitude
of 1 3 Degrees, 40 Minutes, which was, in iliort,
juft at the fartheft Part of the Ifland ^ and the
Admiral keeping a-head, made the open Sea fair
to the Weft, clear of the whole Ifland ; upon
which he brought to, and we fent the Sloop to
ftand in round the fartheft Point North, and
coaft along the Shore, and lee for a Harbour
to put into, which they did, and fbon brought
us an Account, that there was a deep Bay, with
a very good Road, and feveral little Iflands under
which they found good Riding, in i o to 1 7 Fa-
thom Water, and accordingly there we put in.
However, we afterwards found Occaiion to
remove our Station, as you ftiall hear prelently.
We had now nothing to do, but go on Shore,
and acquaint our felves a little with the Natives^
Uke m freih Water, and fome fi'eili Provifions,
( aio )
J^nd then to Sq^ again. We found the People ve-
ry eafy to deal with, and fome Cattel they had ^
but it being at the Extremity of the liland,
they had not fuch Quantities of Cattel here.
However, for the prefent, we refblved to ap-
point this for our Place of Rendezvous, and go
and look out. This was about the latter End
of Jfril.
Accordingly we put to Sea, and cruiled away
to the Northward, for the Arabian Coaft : It was
a long Run ^ but as the Winds generally blow
Trade from the South, and S. S. E. from May
to September J we had good Weather, and in about
twenty Days we made the Ifland of Saccatiay
lying South from the Arabian Coaft, and E. S. E.
from the Mouth of the Gulph of Mocha^ or the
Red Sea.
Here we took in Water, and ftood off and on.
upon the Arabian Shore. We had not cruifed
here above three Days, or thereabouts, but I
Ipy'd a Sail, and gave her Chafe ;, but when we
came up with her, never was fuch a poor Prize
chafed by Pyfates that look'd for Booty ; for we
found nothing in her, but poor, half-naked Turh
going a Pilgrimage to Mecca^ to the Tomb of
their Prophet Mahomet \ the Jonk that carry 'd
tiiem had no one thing worth taking away, but
a little Rice, and fome Coffee, which was all the
poor Wretches had for their Subfiftence^ fo we
i^t them go, for indeed we knew not what to do
with them.
The fame Evening we chafed another Jonk
With two Mafts, and in fomething better Plight
to look at than the former. When we came
on board, we found them upon the fame Errand,
but only that they were People of fome better
Faihion
( 215 )
Fafhion than the other ; and here we got fostid
iPlunder, fome Turhfli Stores, a few Diamonds in
the Ear-drops of five or fix Perlbns, fome fine
Terfim Carpets, of which they made their Saffra's
to lye upon, and fome Money •, ^o we let them go
alfo.
We continued here eleven Days longer, and
faw nothing but now and then a Fiihing-Boat ;
but the twelfth Day of our Cruife, we fpy'd a
Ship: Indeed I thought at firft it had been an
Englijh Ship, but it appeared to be an European
freighted for a Voyage from Coa^ on the Coaft of
Mdahary to the Red Sea, and was very rich. We
chafed her, and took her, without any Fight,
tho' they had fome Guns on board too, but not
many. We found her Manned with Portuguefe
Seamen, but under the Direction of five Mer-
chant Turhy who had hired her on the Coaft of
Malabar^ of Ibme Portugal Merchants, and had
loaden her with Pepper, Salt-petre, fome Spices,
and the reft of the Loading was chiefly Callicoes
and wrought Silks, Ibme of them rery rich.
We took her, and carried her to Saccatia, hut
we really knew not what to do with her, for the
fame Reafons as before ; for all their Goods were
of little or no Value to us. After fome Days we
found Means to let one of the Turhlfli Merchants
know, that if he would ranfom the Ship, we
"would take a Sum of Money, and let them go.
He told me, if I would let one of them go on
Shore for the Money, they would do it : So we
adjufted the Value of the Cargo at 30000 Du-
cats. Upon this Agreement we allowed the Sloop
to carry him on Shcre at Dofar in Arahiaj where
a rich Merchant laid down the Money for them,
and came off with our Sloop ^ and on Payrn^t
Q.^ of
( 212 )
of the Money, we very fairly and honefily let
them go.
Some Days after this, we took an Arahlm Jonk
going from the Gulph of Terfia to Mocha^ with a
good Quantity of Pearl on board ^ we gutted
him of the Pearl, which, it feems, was belong-
ing to fome Merchants at Mocha^ and let him go,
for there was nothing elfe worth our taking.
We continued cruifnig up and down here, till
we began to find our Provisions grow low, when
Q2i^t?i\\\Wilmot our Admiral told us, 'twas time
to think of going back to the Rendezvous, and
the reft of the Men faid the fame, being a little
weary of beating* about for above three Months
together, and meeting with little or nothing com-
par'd to our great Expectations. But I was very
loath to part with the Red Sea at ^o cheap a Rate,
and prefs'd them to tarry a little longer,, which
at my Inftance we did *, but three Days after-
wards, to our great Misfortune, underftood, that
by Landing the Turhjh Merchants at Dofar, we
had alarmed the Coaft as far as the Gulph of
l^er/ja, fo that no VelTel would ftir that Way, and
ronfcquently nothing was to be expe3:ed on that
Side.
I was greatly mortify'd at this Ne\^s, and
could no longer withftand the Importunities of
the Men, to return to M^dagafcar. However, as
the Winds continued ftill to blow at S. S. E. to
E. by S. we were obliged to ftand away towards
the Coaft of Afrkay and the Ca^e Guarde Foy^ the
Winds being more variable under the Sh@re, than
in the open Sea.
I Here we chopp'd upon a Booty which we did
'■ not look for, and which made Amends for all our
Waiting; for the very fame Hour that we mado
. Uf^;
Lnnd, we fpy'd a large Vefiel failing along thd
i)hore. to the Southward. The Ship was oi'Berigaly
belonging to the Great ^^^z^/'s Country, but had
on board a Dutch Pilot, whole Name, if I remem-
ber right, was Vanderdicfl^ and leveral Eurc^can
Seamen, whereof three were EngHjlu She was in
no Condition to refift us ^ the reft of her Seamen
were Indians of the Mogulh Subjects, fome MaU-
barsy and fome others. There were five Indian
Merchants on board, and ^ome Armenian: It leems
they had been at Mocha with Spices, Silks, Dia-
monds, Pearls, Callicoe, &c, fuch Goods as the
Country aiibrded, and had little on board now
but Money in Pieces of Eight, which, by the
Way, was jufi: what we wanted ^ and the thrte
Enghf) Seamen came along with us, and the Dutch
Pilot would have done fo too *, but the two Armc-
vian Merchants entreated us not to take him •
for that he being their Pilot, there was none of
the Men knew how to guide the Ship : So, at
their Requeft, we refufed him; but we made
them promife he ihould not be uled ill for be-
ing willing to go with us.
We got near 200000 Pieces of Eight in th's
VefTel y and if they faid true, there was a Jew of
Goa who intended to have embark'd with them,
who had 200000 Pieces of Eight with h:m, ail
his own ; but his good Fortune fpringing out of
his ill Fortune, hinder'd him, for he fell fick at
Mochay and could not be ready to travel, which
was the Saving of his Money.
There was none with me at the Taking th is
Prize, but the Sloop •, for Captain IVilmot's Ship
proving leaky, he went away for the Rendezvou'^'
before us, and arrived there the Middle of Decern-
ber J but not liking the Port, he left a great Cron
Q. 3 <^^
( 514 )
on Shore, with DireOiions written on a Plate of
Lead fixt to it, for us to come after him to the
l[i;reat Bay of MAngahelly^ where he found a ve-
ry good Harbour -, but we learnt a Piece of News
here, that kept us from him a great while, which
the Admiral took Offence at^ but we ftopt his
Mouth with his Share of 200000 Pieces of Eight
to him and his Ship's Crew. But the Story which
interrupted our coming to him was this. Between
JUangahelly and another Point called Cafe St. Seba-
ftiariy there came on Shore in the Night, an
Etiro^ean Ship ^ and whether by Strefs of Wea-
ther, or Want of a Pilot, I know not, but the
Ship branded, and could not be got off.
We lay in the Cove, or Harbour, where, as
I have faid, our Rendezvous was appointed, and
had not yet been on Shore, fo we had notfeen
the Direftions our Admiral had left for us.
Our Friend Willi am ^ of whom I have faid no-
thing a great while, had a great Mind one Day
to go on Shore, and importuned me to let him
have a little Troop to go with him, for Safety,
that they might fee the Country. I was mighti-
ly againft it for many Reafbns •, but particularly
I told him, he knew the Natives were but Sava-
ges, and they were very treacherous, and I defir-
red him that he would not go- and had he gone
pn much farther, I believe I ihould have down-
right refufed him, and commanded him not to
go- .
But in order to perfwade me to let him go,
he told me, he would give me an Account of the
\ Reafon why he was fo importunate. He told
\ me, the lafi Night he had a Dream, which was
1 fo forcible, and made fuch an Impreflion upon
5 his Mind, that he could not be quiet till he had
made
( ^15 ;
made the Propofal to me to go, and if I refu-
fed him, then he thought his Dream was figni-
ficant, and if not, then his Dream was at an
End.
His Dream was, he faid, that he went on Shore
with 30 Men, of which the Cockfwain he faid
was one, upon the liland, and that they found a
Mine of Gold, and enrich'd them all •, but this
was not the main thing he faid, but that the
fame Morning he had dreamt fo, the Cockfwain
came to him juft then, and told him, that he
dreamt he went on Shore on the Ifland of Mcida^
gafcar^ and that fom.e Men came to him and
told him, they would ihew him where he ihouid
get a Prize would make them all rich.
Thefe two things put together began to weigh
with me a little, tho' I was never inclined to
give any Heed to Dreams \ but Williams Impor-
tunity turn'd me effedually, for I always put
a great deal of Strefs upon his Judgment : So
that in fhort, I gave them Leave to go ^ but I
charged them not to go far off from the Sea Coall:,
that if they were forced down to the Sea-Side
upon any Occaiion, we might perhaps fee them,
and fetch them off with our Boats.
They went away early in the Morning, one and
thirty Men of them in Number, very well arm'd,
and very flout Fellows-, they traveled all the Day,
and at Night made us a Signal that all was well,
from the Top of a Hill, which we had agreed on,
•by miking a great Fire.
Next Day they march'd down the Hill on the
other Side, inclining towards the Sea-Side, as
they had promifed, and faw a very pleafant Valley
before them with a River in the Middle of it,
which a little farther below them feemed to be
Q.^ big
(ai6)
biii; enough to bear fmall Ships : They marched
r.-pace towards this River, and were furprized
with the Koife of a Piece going off, which .by
the Sound could not be far off^ they liftened
long, but could hear no more, fo they went
rn to the River Side, which was a very fine
frefli Stream, but widened a-pace, and they
]cept on by the Banks of it, till almoft at once
it opened or widened into a good large Creek,
or Harbour, about five Miles from the Sea ;
nnd that which was ftill more furprizing, as
they marched forward, they plainly faw in
the Mouth of the Harbour, or Creek, the Wreck
of a Ship.
The Tide was up, as we call it, that did not
appear very much above the Water, but as they
made downwards, they found it grew bigger,
sind bk<?;er, and the Tide fbon after ebbi no; out,
tney found it lay dry upon the Sands, and ap-
peared to be the Wreck of a confiderable
Venel, larger than could be expected in that
Country.
After feme tim.e, William taking out his Glafs
to look at it more nearly, wj^s furprized with
Jiearing a Mufquet Shot whiftle by him, and
imm.ediately af::er that, he heard the Gun, and
iaw the Smoke from the other Side^ upon which
.our Men impfiediately fired three Mufquets to
dilcover, if pofiible, what or who they were.
Upon the Koife of tbefe Guns, Abundance of Men
xam.e running down to the Shore, from among
fbme Trees, ?^nd our Men could eafily perceive
that they were Eumeansj tho' they knew not cf
what Kation: HoWever, our Men halloo'd to
them, as loud as they could, and by and by
they got a long Pole, and fet it up, and hung a
'^ ' ' white
( *i7 )
white Shirt upon it for a Flag of Truce. They
on the other Side favv it, by the help of their
Glaffes too, and quickly after, our Men fecL-
a Boat launch off from the Shore, as they
thought, but it was from another Creek it feern"^,
f\nd immediately they came rowing over the
Creek to our Men, carrying alfo a white Flag as
a Token of Truce.
It is not eafy to defcribe the Surprize of Joy
and Satisfaction that appeared on both Sides, to
lee not only white Men, but Englijh Men, in c.
Place ib remote ^ but what then muft it be, wh^*i7
they came to know one another, and to find th^'t
they were not only Country Men, but Comrades,
and that this was the very Ship that Captain
Wilmoty our Admiral, commanded, and whole
Company we had loft in the Storm at Tcba'TOy
after making an Agreement to Rendezvous at
J\4adagafcar ?
They had, itfeems, got Intelligence of us, when
they came to the South Part of the Ifland, and
had been a roving as far as the Gulph of Berg,tl,
when they met Captain Avery j with whom tiiev
joined, took leveral rich Prizes, and amongft the
reft, one Ship with the great MoguCs Daughter,
T^nd an immenle Treafure in Money and Jewels,
and from thence they came about the Coaft of
Coromandely and afterwards that of Malabar ^ into
the Gulph of Terfiay where they alfo toojk
Ibme Prize, and then defigned for the South Part
of Afadagafcar'^ but the Winds blowing hard at
S.^ E. and S. E. by E. they came to the North-
ward of tne lile, and being after that leparated
by a furious Tempeft from the K. W. they were
forced into the Mouth of that Creek, where they
.'oft their Ship. And they told us alfo, that tliey
heard
tieard that Captain jivery himfelf had loft hisr
Ship alfo, not far oft
When they had thus acquainted one another
with their Fortunes, the poor over- joyed Men
were in Hafte to go back to communicate their
Joy to their Comrades*, and leaving feme of their
Men with ours, the reft went back-, and William
was fb earneft to fee them, that he and two more
went back with them, and there he came to
their little Camp where they lived. There were
about a hundred and fixty Men of them in all *, they
had got their Guns on Shore, and fome Ammu-
3ution, but a good deal of their Powder was
ipoil'd. However they had raifed a fair Platform,
and mounted twelve Pieces of Cannon upon it,
which was a fufficient Defence to them on
that Side of the Sea ^ and juft at the End of
the Platform they ha,d made a L,aanch, and a
little Yard, and were all hard at Work building
another little Ship, as I may call it, to go to Sea
in, but they put a Stop to this Work upon the
Islews they had of our being come in.
When our Men went into their Hutts, it was
liirprizing indeed to fee the vaft Stock of Wealth
they had got, in Gold, and Silver, and Jewels,
which however they told was a Trifle to what
Captain Atjery^ had wherever he was gone.
It was five Days we had waited for our Men,
and no News of them, and indeed, 1 gave them
over, for loft-, but was furprized, after ftve
Days waiting, to fee a Ship's Boat come rovying
towards us along Shore*, what to make of it, 1
could not tell, but was at laft better fatisfied,
when our Men told me they heard them halloo,
and faw them wave their Caps to us.
In
f 219 )
In a little time they came quite up to us, and
I law Friend William ftand up in the Boat and
make Signs to us^ fo they came on Board : But
when I faw there was but fifteen of our one and
thirty Men, I asked him what was become of
their Fellows ? O I fays William, they are all very
tvelly and my Dream is fully made good^ and the Cock-
[warns too.
This made me very impatient to know how
the Cafe flood ; fb he told us the whole Story,
which indeed furprized us all. The next Day
we weighed, and flood away Southerly to joiu
Captain Wilmot and his Ship at A^angahelly^ where
we found him, as I faid, a little chagrin at our
Stay ; but we pacified him afterwards with re%
ling him. the Hiftory of William^ s Dream^ and the
Conlequence of it.
In the mean time, the Camp of our Comrade;:
was fo near Mangahelly, that our Admiral, and 1,
Friend William^ and fbme of the Men, refolvcd
to take the Sloop, and go and lee them, and
fetch them all, and their Goods, Bag and
Baggage, on board our Ship, which accor-
dingly we did ; and found their Camp, their "for-
tifications, the Battery of Guns they had ere£lec?,
their Treafure, and all the Men, jufl as William
had related it • fo after fome Stay, we took all the
Men into the Sloop, and brought them away
with us.
It was fome time before we knew what was
become of Captain Avery ^ but after about a
Month, by the Direction of the Men who had
lofl their Ship, we fent the Sloop to cruife along
the Shore, to find out, if poilible, where they
were, and in about a Week's Cruife our Men
found them ; and particularly, that they had loft
their Ship, as well as our Men had loft theirs,
and
( no )
?md that they were every Way in as bad a Con*
dition as ours.
It was about ten Days before the Sloop re-
turned, and Captain j^very with them^ and-
this was the whole Force that, as I remember.
Captain u4very ever had with him ^ for now
we joined all our Companies together, and it
ftoodthus: We had two Ships and a Sloop, ia
which, we had three Hundred and twenty Men,
but much too few to Man them as they ought
to be, the great Tortugnefe Ship requiring of
her felf near 400 Men to Man her compleatly :
As for our loft, hut now found Comrade, her Com-
pliment of Men was 180, or there abouts, and
Captain Avery had about three Hundred Men
with him, whereof, he had ten Carpenters with
him, moft of which were taken aboard the Prize
fhey had taken •, fo that, in a Word, all the Force
Atery had at Madagafcar in the Year 1699, or
thereabouts, amounted to our three Ships, for
L'sown was loft, as you have heard, and never
Aiad any more than about twelve Hundred Men
In all.
It was about a Month after this, that all our
Crews got together, and as Avery was unftiipt,
've all agreed "to bring our own Company into
*he Tortuguefe Man of War and the Sloop, and
'n;ive Captain Avery the Sfanl^i Frigate, with all
tiie Tackles, and Furniture Guns, and Ammuni-
tion for hisCrewby themfelvesv for which they
being full of Wealth, agreed to gi^^e us Forty
Thoufand Pieces of Eight.
It was next cnnfidered, what Courfe we ftiould
take: Captain ^'z;fry, to give him his due, pro- '
pofed our building a little City here, eftablifh-
iiig our felves on Shore, with a good Fortifica-
tion,
( 2^» ;
'Son, and Works proper to defend our felves;
and that, as we had Wealth enough, and could
encreafe it to what Degree we pleafed, we
fhould content our fe Ives to retire here, and bid
Defiance to the World. But 1 foon convinc'd him
that this Place would be no Security to us, if vve
pretended to carry on our cruifmg Trade: For
that then all the i^ations ofEurope^ and indeed of
that Part of the World, would be engaged to root
us out. But if we refolved to live there, as in a
Retirement, and plant in the Country, as private
Men, and give over our Trade of Pyrating, then
indeed we might Plant, and fettle our felves
where we pleafed-, but then I told him, the
beft Way would be to treat with the Natives,
and buy a Tra£l: of Land of them, farther up the
Country, ieated upon Ibme navigable River, where
Boats might go up and down for Pleafure, buC
not Ships to endanger us: That thus Planting tho.
high Ground with Cattle, fuch as Cows and
Goats, of which the Country alfo was full, to be
fure we might live here as well as any Men in
the World ^ and I owned to him, I thought it was
a good Retreat for thofe that were willing to leave
off, and lay down, and yet did not care to venture
home and be hanged , that is to fay, to run the
Rifque of it.
Captain Avery ^ however he made no poficive
Difcovery of his Intentions, leemed to me to de-
cline my Notion of going up into the Country
to Plants on the contrary, it was apparent he was
of Captain Wilmot\ Opinion, that they might
maintain themfelves on Shore, and yet carry ^nn
their cruifmg Trade too^ and upon this the v
refolved : But as I afterwards underftood, about
fift^ of their Men went up the Country, and
fet-
( ^21 )
iettled themfelves in an Inland Place, as a Co-
lony J whether they are there ftill or not, I cannot
tell, or how many of them are left alive •, but it's
my Opinion, they are there ftill, and that they
are confiderably encreafed, for as I hear, they
have got fome Women among them, tho' not
many *, for it leems five Dutch Women, and three
or four little Girls were taken by them in a
Dutch Ship which they afterwards took going to
Mocha, and three of thofe Women marrying
ibme of thefe Men, went with them to live in
their new Plantation j but of this I only fpeak
by Hear-fay.
As we lay here fome time, I found our Peo-
ple mightily divided in their Notions; Ibme were
for going this Way, and fome that, till at iafl: I
began to forefee they would part Company, and
perhaps we fhould not have Men enough to keep
together, to Man the great Ship, fo I took Cap-
tain Wllmot afide, and began to talk to him
about it-, but loon perceived that he enclined
himfelf to flay 2it Madagafcar^ and having got a
vaft Wealth for his own Share, had fecret Defigns
of getting Home fome Way or other.
I argued the Impoffibility of it, and the Hazard
he would run, either of falling into the Hands
of Thieves and Murtherers in the Red Sea, who
would never let fuch a Treafure as his was
pafs their Hands,' or of his falling into the
Hands of the Englljh, Dutch, or French, who would
certainly hang him for a Pyrate. 1 gave him an
Account of the Voyage I had made from this
very Place to the Continent of jifrki, and what
a Journey it was to travel on Foot.
In fhort, nothing could perfwade him, but he
would go into the Red Sea with the Sloop, and
where
( ^n )
where the Children of Ifrael paft through the
Sea dry-ihod, and landing there, would travel
to Grand Cairo by Land , which is not above
eighty Miles, and from thence he faid he could
Ship himfelf by the Way of jilexa?idria^ to any
Part of the World.
I reprefented the Hazard, and indeed the Im-
poilibiiity of his palling by Mocha^ and Judda^
without being attacked, if he offered it by Force;
or plundered, if he went to get Leave, and ex-
plained the Reafbns of it fb much, and lb effectu-
ally, that tho' at laft he would not hearken to
it himfelf, none of his Men would go with him.
They told him, they would go any wherewith
him, to ferve him, but that this was running
himfelf and them into certain Deftru£tion, with-
out any PoUibilicy of avoiding it, or Probability
of anfwering his End. The Captam took what I
laid to him quite wrong, and pretended to refent
it, and gave me fbme Buccanier Words upon it ;
but I gave him no Return to it, but this, that I
advifed him for his Advantage, that if he did
not under fland it fo, it was his Fault, not mine ;
that I did not forbid him to go, nor had I offered
to perfwade any of the Men not to go with him,
tho' it was to their apparent Deflru£tion.
However, warm Heads are not ealily cooled;
the Captain was fo eager, that he quitted our
Company, and with mod: Part of his Crew, went
over to Captain Avery , and forted with his Peo-
ple, taking all the Treafure with him, which, by
the Way, was not veiy fair in him, we having
agreed to fhare all our Gains, whether more or.
lefs, whether abient or prefent.
Our Men mutterM a little at it, but I paci-
fied them as well as I could, and told them, it
was
( 224 )
tvns eafy for us to get as much, if we minded
our Hits ^ and Captain Wilmot had fet us a very
gcod Example: For by the fame Rule, the Agree-
ment of any farther Sharing of Profits with them,
was at an End. I took this Occafion to put into
their Heads, fome Part of my farther Defigns,
which were, to range over the Eaflern Sea, and
fee if we could not make our felves as rich as
Mr. Avery^ who, it was true, had gotten a pro-
digious deal of Money, tho' not one Half of
what was faid of it in Etirofe,
Our Men were fo pleafed with my forward,
cnterprizing Temper, that they alTured me that
they would go with me, one and all, over the
T.hole Globe, wherever 1 would carry them -^
and as for Captain Wilmot , thQy would hax/^e
nothing more to do with him. This came to
his Ears, and put him into a great Rage •, fo
that he threaten'd, if I came on Shore, he would
cut my Throat.
I had Information of it privately, but took no
Kotice of it at all, only I took Care not to go
unprovided for him, and leldom walked about
but in very good Company. However, at laft
Captain Wilmot and I met, and talked over the
Matter very ferioufly , and I offered him the Sloop
to go where he pleafed : Or, if he was not fatis-
fied with that, 1 offered to take the Sloop, and
leave him the great Ship. But he declined both,
and only defired that I would leave him fix Car-
penters, which I had in our Ship, more than I
had need of, to help his Men to finiih the Sloop
that was begun before we came thither, by the
Men that loft his Ship. This I confented rea-
dily to, and lent him feveral other Hands that
were ufeful to thein, and in a little time they
built
( 2^5 ;
fcuilt a ftout Brigantine able to carry fourteen
Guns, and two Hundred Men.
What Meafures they took, and how Captain
Avery managed afterwards, is too long a Story
to meddle with here ^ nor is it any of my Bu-
iinefs, having my own Story ftill upon my Hands.
We lay here about thefe feveral fimple Dis-
putes almoft five Months, when about the latter
End of March I iet Sail with the great Ship,
having in her forty four Guns, and four hundred
Men, and the Sloop, carrying eighty Men. Wa
did not fteer to the Malabar Coaft, and fo to the
Gulph of Perpdy as was at firft intended, tha
Eaft Monlbons blowing yet too ftrong, but we
Ivept more under the African Coaft, where we had
the Wind variable till we pafsM the Line, and
made the Cape Baffa in the Latitude of four De-
grees 10 Minutes \ from thence, the Monlbons be-
ginning to change to the N. E. and N^ N. E. wo
led it away, with the Wind large, to the Mai^
divlesj a fam£>us Ledge of Iflands, well known by
all the Sailors who have gone into thofe Part3
of the World ; and, leaving thefe Iflands a little
to the South, we made Cape Comer In ^ the Souther-
moft Land of the Coaft of Malabar^ and went
round the Ifle of Ceylon, Here we lay by a while^
to wait for Purchafe ^ and here we law three
large EngUJh Eafl-India Ships going from Bengal^
or from Fort St. George^ home ward for England^
or rather for Bombay and Surat^ till the "Trade
let in.
We brought to, and hoifting an Engllfl) An-
cient and Pendant,; lay by for them, as if we
intended to attack them. They could not tell
what to make of us a good while, though they
faw our Colours 3 and, I believe, at firft they
R thought:
( i26 )
tliought us to be French ; but as they came nearer
to us, we let them loon fee what we were, for
we hoifted a black Flag with twocrofs Dagger^
in it, on our Main Top-maft Head, which let
them lee what they were to expeft.
We loon found the Effect of this ^ for, at firft
they fpread their Antients, and made up to us
in a Line as if they would fight us, having the
Wind off Shore fair enough, to have brought
them on board us-, but when they faw what
Force we were of, and found we were Cruilers
of another kind, they flood away from us again,
with all the Sail they could make. If they had
come up, we ihould have given them an unex-
pe£l: Welcome, but as it was, we had no Mind to
follow them, lb we let them go for the fame
Realbns which I mentioned before.
But though we let them pafs, we did not de-
fign to let others go, at fo eafy a Price : It was
but the next Morning that we law a Sail, Hand-
ing round Cape Comerlwy and Heering, as we
thought, the fame Courfe with us. We knew not
at firft what to do with her, becaufe llie had
the Shore on her Larboard Quarter, and if we
offered to chafe her, fne might put into any Port
or Creek, and elcape us^ but to prevent this,
we lent the Sloop, to get in between her and the
Land ^ as foon as l^ie faw that, llie haled in to
keep the Land aboard, and VN^hen the Sloop ftood
towards her, ihe made right alhore with all the
Canvas Ihe could fpread.
The Sloop however came up with her, and
engaged her, and found fhe was a Veffel of ten
Guns, FGrtuguefe built, but in- the Dutch Traders
Hands, and manned by Dutchmen^ who were bound
from, the Gulph of Terfa^ to B^.tavla^ to fetch
Spices
( 2^7 ;
Spices and other Goods fl-om thence. The Sloop's
Men took her, and had the Rummaging of her
before we came up; She had in her Ibme European
GooASy and a good round Sum of Money, and
ibme Pearl;, ib that tho' we did not go to the
Gulph :br the Pearl, the Pearl came to us out
oftheGulph, and we had our Share of it. This
was a 1 ich Ship, and the Goods were of very
confiderable Value, befides the Money and the
Pearh
We had a long Confultation here, what w^
ihou^d do with the Men ^ for, to give them the
Ship, and let them purfue their Voyage to Javay
would be to alarm the Dutch Fad'ory there, who'
are by far the ftrongeft in the Indies^ and to
make our PaiTagetliat Way impradlcable^ where-
as we refolved to vifit that Part of the World,
in our Way, but were not willing to pals the
great Bay of Bengal^ where we hoped for a great
deal of Purchale ^ and therefore it behoved us not
to be'A'ay-laid before we came there, becaufethey
knew we muft pafs by the Streights of Malacca^
or diofe of Sundy^ and either Way it was very
eafy to prevent us.
W^hile we were confulting this in the great
Cabin, the Men had had the fame Debate be-
fore the Maft, and it feems the Majority there
were for pickling up the poor Dutchmen among
the Herrings -^ in a Word, they were for throw-
ing them all into the Sea. Poor William the
Qiiaker was in great Concern about this, and
comes directly to me; to talk about it. Hark
thee^ iays William, what wilt thou do wiih thefe
Dutchmen thou haft on board^ thou wilt not let them
go //z/ppo/^, fays he? Vl^'hy fays I, William, would
you advlfe mc to let them go? A"«?,fiys William, Jean-
R 2 'fjot
votfay it is fit for thee to let them nt^o \ that is to JaJ^
to go en ivlth their Voyage to JBatavia, becaufe it is noH^
forthyTurr?y that the Dutch ^f Batavia fhould havd
any Knowledge of thy hei?ig in thefe Seas. Well then, lays
I, to hi?ny J know no Remedy hut to throw them Over-
hoard. Tou know William, fays I, a Datchmaa/ir/Twx
like a Fi(l}y and all our People here are of the fame Opini"
pn as well as J'^ at the fame time I refolvcd it fljould notk
he done, hut wanted to hear what William would fay :
But he o-ravely reflyed, if all the Men in the Ship were
cfthat Mindj I will never hclievc that thou wilt he of
that Mind thy felf\ for I have heard thee protefl rf-
(7ainfl Cruelty in all other Cafes. Well William fays I^
^that is true, hut what then Jhall we do with them ?
lV%y, fays William, is there no way hut to murther
them .? I amperfwaded thou ca?ifl not be in earnefh'^ no
indeed William, fays I, / am not in earnefi^ huP
they pall not go lava, no nor to Ceylon, that is certain*
But, fays William, the Men have done thee no Injury
at all, Thou hafi taken a great Treafure from them^
what can ft thou pretend to hurt them for ? iV^^'jWilliam^
fays I, do not talk of that, I have Pretence enough if
that he all: My Pretence is to prevent doing me hurty
a'lid that is as necefja-y a Piece of the Law of Self-Pre^
fervation as any you, can name \ hut the mam Thing isy
J know not what to do with them to prevent their
prating.
While William and I was talking,, the poa|
Dutchmen were openly condemned to die as it
maybe called, by the whole Ship's Company ^ and
I io warm were the Men upon it, that they grei^
• very clamorous -^ and when they heard that Wil-
liam was againll it, fome of them fvvore they
iliould die, "and if William oppofed it, he ihoulji
d^vwu along with them.
Bus
( 229 )
But, as I was refolved to put an End
fo their cruel ProjeO:, fo I found itwas time to
take upon me a little, or the bloody Humour
might grow too ftrong •, fo I called the Dutchmen
upland talked a little with them. Firrt, lasked^
them if they were willing to go with us ^ two of
them offered it prefently, but the reft, which
were fourteen, declined it. Well then, faid I,
where would you go? They defiredthey fliould
%o to Ceylon, No, 1 told them, I could not allow
them to go to any Dutch Faftory, and told them
very plainly the Reafons of it, which they could
not deny to be juft. I let them know alio the
cruel bloody Meafures of our Men, but that I
had refolved to fave them, if polTible, and there-
fore I told them, I would fet them on Shore at
fome Englljlj fadory in the Bay of Bengal^ or put
them on board any Englijh Ship I met, after 1
was paft the Streights otSuTidy or of Malacca^ but
not before \ for as to my coming back again, 1 told
them, I would run the venture of theiri)z.'fc^ Power
from BataviAy but I would not have the News
come there before me, becaufe it would make all
their Merchant Ships lay up, and keep out of
our Way,
It come next into our Confideration, whcct we
^ould do with their Ship ? but this was not long
fefblving-, for there were but two Ways, either
to fet her on Fire, or to rim her on Shore, and we
choie the laft:, fo we fet her Fore-Sail with the
Tack at the Cat-head, and leaflit her Helm a little
to Starboard, to anfver her Head-Sail, and lb i^ot
her a-going, with neither Cat or Bog in her, and
it was not above two Hours before we faw her
tHjn right ailxore upon the Cpaft, a little beyond
jCj ' the
( ^5° ")
the Cape Comerirj^ and away we went round about
Ceylon^ (o\- fjie Coaft of Coroma?jdel.
WcHiiled along there, not hi Sight of the Shore,
only, but fo near, as to lee the Ships in the Road
at Fort St. Fiavidj Fort St. George^ and at the
other Faclories along that Shore, as well as along
the Co a ft of Galcond^.^ carying our Englifl) AnXl"
ent, when we came near the Butch Fadories,
and Dutch Colours when we paft by the Er?glljli
Factories. We met with little ^'urchale upon
this Coaft, except two fmall Veffels of Golcoriday
bound crofs the Bay with Bales of Callicoes and
Muflins, and wrought Silks, and fifteen Bales of
Komalls, from the Bottom of the Bay, which were
going, on whofe Account we knew not, to Achirij
and to other Ports on the Coaft of Malacca ^ we
did not enquire to what Place in particular, but
we let the Veffels go, having none but Indians on
board.
In the Bottom oP the Bay, we met with a
great Jonk belonging to the MoguCs Court, with
a great many People, Paifengers as we fiippoled
them to be \ it feems they were bound for the
River Hugely J or Ganges and came from Su?natra'j
this was a Prize worth taking indeed, and we
got f() much Gold in her, befides other Goods
which we did not meddle with, Peper in par-
ticular, that it had like to have put an End to
our Cruile •, for almoft all my Men faid we
were rich enough, and defired to go back again
to Madagafcar \ but I had other things in my
Head ftill, and when I came to talk to them,
Und let Friend William to talk with them, we
put fuch further Golden Flopes into their Heads,
that we foon prevailed with them to let us
go on.
My
( ^3^ )
My next Defign was, to leave all the dange"
rous Straights of Malaccay SincaforCy and Sundy^
where we could expert no great Booty, but
what we might light on in European Ships,
which we muft fight for *, and tho' we were able to
fight, and wanted no Courage, even to Defpera-
tion • yet we were rich too, and refblved to be
richer, and took this for our Maxim: That while
we were fure the Wealth we fought was to be
had without fighting, we had no Occafion to
put our felves to the Neceility of lighting for
that which would come upon eafy Terms.
We left therefore the B^y of Bengal ^ and coming
to the Coaft of Stimatra^ we put in at a fmall
Port, where there was a Town, inhabited only
by Mallayansy and here we took in frefh Water,
and a large Quantity of good Pork pickled up,
and well faked, notwithflanding the Heat of
the Climate, being in the very Middle of the
Torrid Zone^ viz. In three Degrees, fifteen Mi-
nutes North Latitude. We alfo took on board
both our VeiTels, forty Hogs alive, which fer*-
ved us for frefh Provifions, having Abundance of
Food for them fuch as the Country produced ^
fuch as Guams, Potatoes, and a fort of coarle
Rice good for nothing elfe, but to feed the
Swine. We killed one of thefe Hogs every Day,
and found them to be excellent Meat. We took
hi alfo a monflrous Quantity of Ducks, and Cocks
and Hens, the fame kind as we have in England^
which we kept for Change of Provifions, and if I
remember right, we had no lefs than two Thou-
fand of them •, fo that at firfl we were peflered
with them very much, but we foon lelfened
them by boiling, roafling, flewing, &c. for we
jiever wanted while we had them.
R 4 My
( 252 )
My long projected Defign now lay open to
^le, which was, to fall in amonGft the Dutch
Spice Iflands, and fee what Mifch^'ef I could do
tliere ^ accordinulv weput out to Sen, the 12th
of j^ugvfl^ and palling the Line the 1 7th, we ftood
away due South leaving the Straits of Sundy^ and
the Hie of lava on the Eaft, till we came to the
Latitude of eleven Degrees, twenty Minutes,
when xve fleered Eall and E. N. E. having eafy
Gales from the W. S. W. till we came fimong
the Moluccas^ or Spice Iflands.
We pafTed thofe Seas with lefs Difficulty than
in other Places, the Winds to the South of lava,
being r-ore variable, and the Weather good, tho'
Ibmetime? we met with Squauly Weather, and
iliort Storms^ but when we came in among
the Spice lilands themfelves, we had a Share of
the Monfoones, or Trade Winds, and made ufe
of them accordingly.
The infinite Number of Iflands which lye in
thefe Seas, embarraft us ftrangely, and it waswith
great Difficulty that we worked our Way thro'
them •, then we fleered for the North Side of the
Thillifinesy where we had a double vChance for Pur-
chafe, viz,, either to meet with the Spamjh
Ships from Aca^ulco on the Coaft of New-Spain y
or we were certain not to fail of iinding fome
Ships or Jonks of Chlna^ who, if they came
from Chlna^ would have a great Qiiantity of
Goods of Value on Board, as well as Money;
or if we took them uoirif?; back, we fhould find
them loaden v/ith Nutmegs and Cloves from. i?^?z-
da and Tematey or from fome of the other
iflands.
We were right in our GueiTes here to a tittle,
and we fleered diredly through a large Out-let,
which
( ^33 )
which they call a Streight, tho' it be £fteeii Miles
broad, and to an Ifland they call Daurma^ and
from thence N. N. E. to Banda •, between thefe
Iflands we met with a Dutch Jonque, or VeiTel
%om% to Amhoyna, We took her without much
Trouble, and I had much ado to prevent our
Men murthering all the Men, as foon as they
heard them lay, they belonged to Amhoyna^ the
Reafon I luppofe any one will guefs.
We took out of her about fixteen Ton of Nut-
megs, ibme Provifions, and their linall Arms,
for they had no great Guns, and let the Ship go :
From thence we failed directly to the Banda
Ifland or Iflands, where we were fure to get
more Nutmegs, if we thought fit *, for my Part
I would willingly have got more Nutmegs, tho'
I had paid for them, but our People abhorred
paying for any thing •, fo we got about twelve
Ton more at feveral times, moft of them from
Shore, and only a few in a fmall Boat of the Na-
tives, which was going to Gllolo. We would have
traded openly, but the Butch ^ who have made
themfeives Mafters of all thofe Iflands, forbid
the People dealing with us, or any Strangers
whatever, and keep them ^o in Awe, that they
durft not do it \ fo we could indeed have made
nothing of it, if we had fbay'd longer, and there-
fore refolved to be gone for TernatCy and fee if we
could make up our Loading with Cloves.
Accordingly we ftood away North, but found
our felves fo intangled among innumerable Iflands,
and without any Pilot that underftood the Chan-
nel and Races between them, that we were obli-
ged to give it over, and refolved to go back again
to Banda^ and fee what we could get among the
other Iflands thereabouts.
The
( n^ )
The flrft Adventure we made here, had like to
have been fatal to us all, for the Sloop being a-
head, made the Signal to us for feeing a Sail, and
afterwards another, and a third, by which we
miderftood fhe faw three Sail, whereupon we
made more Sail to come up with her, but on a
(iidden was gotten among Ibme Rocks, falling
Foul upon them in fuch a Manner as frighted us
all very heartily ^ for having it feems but juft
Water enough as it were to an Inch, our Rudder
ftruck upon the Top of a Rock, which gave us a
terrible Shock, aiid fplit a great Piece off of the
Rudder, and indeed difiibled it fo^ that our Ship
would not fteer at all ^ at leaft not fo as to be de-
pended upon, and we were glad to Hand all our
Sails, except our Fore-fail and Main-top-fail, and
with them we flood away to the Eaft, to fee if we
could find any Creek or Harbour, where we
might lay the Ship on Shore, and repair our Rud-
der ^ befides, we found the Ship her felf had re-
ceived fome Damage, for ihe had fome little Leak
near her Stern Poft, but. a great Way under
Water.
By this Mifchance we loft the Advantages,
whatever they were, of the three Sail of Ships
which we afterward came to hear, were Imall
Bvtch Ships from Bataviay going to Banda and
jimhoyna^ to load Spice, and no doubt had a good*
Quantity of Money on board.
Upon the Difafter I have been fpeaking of, you
3nay very well fuppofe that we came to an An-
chor as foon as we could, which was upon a fmal'i
Ifland not far from Banda^ where tho' the Dutch
Jceep no Fadory, yet they com.e at the Seafon to
buy Kutmegs and Mace. We ftay'd there thir-
teen Days j but there being no Place where we
could
( 295 )
could lay the Ship on Shore, we fent the Sloop to
cruife among the Iflands, to look out for a Place
fit for us. in the mean time we got very good
Water here, fome Provifions, Roots, and Fruits,
and a good Quantity of Kutmegs and Mace, which
we found Ways to trade with the Natives for,
vvithout the Knowledge of their Matters the
Dutch,
At length our Sloop returned, having found an-
other Ifland where there was a very good Har-
bour, we run in, and came to an Anchor. We
immediately unbent all our Sails, fent thema-
fhore upon the Ifland, and fet up feven or eight
Tents with them : Then we unrigged our Top-
matts, and cut them down, hoifted all our Guns
out, our Provifions and Loading, and put them
afhore in the Tents. With the Guns we made
two fmall Batteries, for fear of a Surprize, and
kept a Look out upon the Hill. When we were
all ready, we laid the Ship a-ground upon a
hard Sand, the upper End of the Harbour, and
ihor'd her up on each Side. At low Water ilie
lay almofl dry, fb we mended her Bottom, and
flopt the Leak which was occafioned by flraining
fome of the Rudder Irons with the Shock which
the Ship had againfl the Rock.
Having done this, we alio took Occafion to
clean her Bottom, which, having been at Sea fb
long, was very foul. The Sloop Wafli'd andTal-
low'd alfb, but was ready before us, andcruifed
eight or ten Days among the Iflands, but met
with no Purchafe ^ fb that we began to be tired
of the Place, having little to divert us, but the
mofl furious Claps of Thunder that ever were
read or heard of in the World.
We
We were in Hopes to hv.ve met with fbme Pur-
\ chafe here among the Chinefe^ who we had been
fold came to Ternate to trade for Cloves, and to
^ the Barida Ifles, for Nutmegs, and we could have
been very glad to have loaded our Galleon, or
great Ship, with thefe two Sorts of Spice, and
have thought it a glorious Voyage*, but we found
nothing ft ir ring more than what I have faid, ex-
cept Dutchmen y who by what Means we could not
imagine, had either a Jealoufy of us, or Intelli-
gence of us, and kept themfelves clofe in their
Ports.
I was once refolved to have made a Defcent at
the Ifland of Dumas ^ the Place moft famous for
the beft Nutmegs *, but Friend William^ who was
always for doing our Buiinefs without Fighting,
dilTwaded me from it, and gave fuch Reafbns for
it, that we could not refifi::^ particularly the great
Heats of the Seafbn, and of the Place, for we
were now in the Latitude of juft half a Degree
South *, but while we were difputing this Point,
we were foon determined by the following Acci-
dent. We had a ftrong Gale of Wind at S. W.
by W. and the Ship had frefli Way, but a great
Sea rolling in upon us from the N. E. which we
afterwards found was the Pouring in of the Great
Ocean Eaft of New Guinea* However, as I faid,
we ftood away large, and made frelh Way, when
on the fudden, from a dark Cloud which hover'd
.^ over our Heads, cam.e a Flaili, or rather Blaft of
^'Lightning, which was fb terrible, and quiver'd
{belong among us, that not I only, but a^[our
Men thought the Ship v/as on Fire. The Heat
of the Flaih or Fire was fo fenfibly felt in our Fa-,
ces, that fome of our Men had Blifters raifed by
it
( m )
It on their Skins, not immediately perhaps by th§
Heat, tut by the poiibnous or noxious Particles^
which mix'd themfelves with the Matter iiv
flam'd. But this was not all ^ the Shock of the
Air which the Fracture in the Clouds made, was
liich, that our Ship ihook as when a Broadiide is
fired, and her Motion being check'd as it were at
once by a Repulfe fuperior to the Force that gave
her Way before, the Sails all flew back in a Mo-
ment, and the Ship lay, as we might truly fay,
Thunder-ftruck. As the Blaft from the Cloud
was {b very near us, it was but a few Moments
after the Flafh, that the terribleft Clap of Thun-
der followed that was ever heard by Mortals. I
firmly believe a Blaft of a Hundred Thoufand
Barrels of Gunpowder could not have been greater
to our Hearing •, nay indeed, to fome of our Men
it took away their Hearing.
It is not poilible for me to defcribe, or any one
to conceive the Terrour of that Minute. Our
Men were in fuch a Confter nation, that not a
Man on board the Ship had Prefence of Mind to
apply to the proper Duty of a Sailor, except
Friend William ^ and had not he run very nimbly,
and with a Compofure that I am fure I was not
Mafter of, to let go the Fore-iheet, let in the
Weather Brace of the Fore-yard, and haul'd
down the Top fails, we had certainly brought all
our Mafts by the Board, and perhaps have been
overwhelmed in the Sea.
As for my feif, I muft confefs my Eyes were
open to my Danger, tho' not the leafl to any
thing of Application for Remedy. I was all
Amazement and Confufion, and this was the firft
Time that I can fay I began to feel the Effects of
thaf
(^^S )
\ that Horrour which I know fince much more ofy
\ upon the juft Reflection on my former Life. I
\ thought my felf doom'd by Heaven to fink that
I Moment into eternal Deftruftion •, and with this
peculiar Mark of Terror, viz.. That the Ven-
geance was not executed in the ordinary Way
of human Juftice, but that God had taken me
into his immediate Difpofing, and had refolved
to be the Executer of his own Vengeance.
Let them alone defcribe the Confufion I was in,
i who know what was tJie Cafe of • Child of
I Shadwe/ly or Francis Sfira. It is impoiTible to de-
icribe. My Soul was all Amazement and Sur-
jprize; I thought my felf juft finking into Eter-
nity, owning the divine Juflice of my Puniihment,
but not at all feeling any of the moving, foft-
ning Tokens of a fincere Penitent, affii£l:ed at the
Punifhment, but not at the Crime, alarmed at
the Vengeance, but not terrify'd at the Guilt, ha-
\ ving the fame Guft to the Crime, tho' terrified
' to the laft Degree at the Thought of the Pu-
hifhment, which I concluded I was jufi: now
going to receive.
But perhaps many that read this will be fexi"
fible of the Thunder and Lightning, that may
think nothing of the reft, or rather may make
a Jeft of it all, fa I fay no more of it at this
time, but proceed to the Story of the Voyage.
When the Amazement was over, and the Men
began to come to themfelves, they fell a calling
for one another, every one for his Friend, or for
thofe he had moft R efpeft for ^ and it was a fingu-
lar Satisfaftion to find that no body was hurt.
The next thing was to enquire if the Ship had
received no Damage, when the Boatfwain ftep-
ping
( 259 )
ping forward, found that Part of the Bedd was
gone, but not fo as as to endanger the Bok-
^rit *, fo we hoifted our Topfails again, liaurd
aft the Fore-jQieet, brac'd the Yards, and went
went ourCourfe as before : Nor can I deny bur
that we were all fomewhat like the Ship^* our
firft Aftoniflime;it being a little over, and that we
found the Ship fwim again, we were foon the
fame irreligious hardned Crew that we were be-
fore, and I among the reft.
As we now fteer'd, our Courfe lay N. N. E.
and we pafTed thus with a fair Wind, thro' the
Streight or Channel between the Ifland of Giloh^
and the Land of Nova Gulneay when we were loon
in the open Sea or Ocean, on the South Eaft of
the Philippimsy being the great Pacifick, or South
Sea, where it may be faid to join it felf with the
vaft Indian Ocean.
As we palled into thele Seas fteering due North,
fo we loon crofs'd the Line to the North Side,
and fb failed on towards Mindanoa ^.nd Manilla^ the
chief of the Philip fine Iilands, without meeting
with any Purchafe, till we came to the North-
ward of Manilla^ and then our Trade began ^ for
here we took three Japonefe VelTels, tho' at fome
Diftance from Manilla. Two of them had made
their Market, and were going Home with Nut-
megs, Cinnamon, Cloves, &c, beiides all Sorts
of European Goods brought with the Spanljli Ships
from Acapuko. They had together eight and
thirty Ton of Cloves, and five or fix Ton of
Nutmegs, and as much Cinnamon. We took
the Spice, but meddled with very little of the
European Goods, they being, as we thought, not
worth our while, but we were very lorry for it
loon
( HO )
foon after, and therefore grew wifer upon the
next Occafion.
The third Jafonefe was the beft Prize to u<?, for
he came with Money, and a great deal of Gold
uncoin'd, to buy fuch Goods as we mentioned
above : We eafed him of his Gold, and did
him no other Harm, and having no Intention to
ilay long here, we flood away for Chim.
We were at Sea above two Months upon this
Voyage, beating it up againft the Wind, which
blew fteadily from the North Eaft, and within a
Point or two one Way or other ^ and this indeed
was the Reafon why we met with the more Pri-
zes in our Voyage.
W^e were juft gotten clear of the Thiliffinesy and
as we purpofed to go to the Ifle of Formofay when
the Wind blew fo frefh at N. K. E. that there
was no making any thing of it, and we were
forced to put back to Laconla^ the moft Norther-
ly of thofe Iflands. We rode here very fecure,
and ihifted our Situation not in View of any Dan-
ger, for there was none, but: for a better Supply
of Provifions, which we found the People very
willing to fupply us with.
There lay while we remained here, three ve-
ry great Galleons or Sfaniflj Ships, from the South
Seas, whether newly come in, or ready to fail^ vve
could not under ftand at firft ^ but as we found
the C^zV^ Traders began to load and let forward
to the North, we concluded the Spanijh Ships had
newly unloaded their Cargo, andthefe had been
buying ^ lb we doubted not but we ihould meet;
f with Purchafe in the reft of our Voyage, neither
indeed could we well mifs of it.
We Hay'd here till the beginning of Maf^
when wq were told the Omefe Traders would
( 241 )
let forward, for the Northern Monfbons end
about the hitter End of March^ or the Beginning
of ji^ril J fo that they are fure of fair Winds
Home. Accordingly we hired fome of the Coun-
try Boats, which are very fwift Sailers, to go
and bring us Word how Affairs flood at Manila
la, and when the Chif7a Jonks would fail, and by
this Intelligence we ordered our Matters fo wel),
that three Days after we fet Sail, we fell in wiuh
no lefs than eleven of them, out of which how-
ever having by Misfortune of dilcovering our
lelves, taken but three, we contented our felves,
and purfued our Voyage to Formofa. In thefe
three Veffels we took in lliort fuch a Quantity of /
Cloves, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, and Mace, befides
Silver, that our Men began to be of my Opinion, ,
That we were rich enough ^ and in ihort, we had -'
nothing to do now, but to confider by what Me-
thods to lecure the immenfe Treaflire we had
got.
I was fecretly glad to hear, that they were of
this Opinion • for 1 had long before refolved, it
it was poHible, to perfwade them to think of re-
turning, having fully perfefted my firft proje£i:ed
Defign, of Rummaging among the Spice Iflands,
and all thole Prizes, which were exceeding rich
at Manilla, was quite beyond my Defign.
But now I had heard what the Men fald, and how
they thought we were very well. I let them know
by iFriend William, that I intended only to fail to
the Idand Formofa, where I fhould find Opportu-
nity to turn our Spices and European Goods into
ready Money, and that then I would tack about
for the South, the Northern Monfoons being per-
haps by that time alfo ready to fet in. They all
approved of my Defign, and willingly went for-
S ward.
( H^ )
\vard, becaufe, befides the Winds, which would
not permit until O^ober^ to go to the South : I
liiy, befides this, we were now a very deep Ship,
having near two Hundred Ton of Goods on board,
and particularly lome very valuable. The Sloop
alfo had a Proportion.
With this Refolution we went on chear fully,
when within about twelve Days Sail more, we
made the Ifland Formofay at a great Diftance, but
were our felves fnot beyond the Southermoft
Part of the Ifland, being to Leeward^ and almoft
upon the Coaft of China. Here we were a little
at a Lofs •, for the EngUflj Faftories were not far
off, and we might be obliged to fight fome of
their Ships, if we met: with them ^ which tho'
we were able enough to do, yet we did not
defire it on many Accounts ^ and particularly
becaufe we did not think it was our Bufinefs to
have it known who we were, or that fuch a kind
of People as we, had been {een on the Coaft.
However, we were obliged to keep up to the
Northward, keeping as good an Offing as we could,
with refpeft to the Coaft of Chi?7a. We had not
failed long, but we chafed a fmall Chwefe Jonk '.,
and having taken her, we found flie was bound
to the luand of Formofay having no Goods on
board but fome Rice, and a fmall Quantity of
Tea ', but fiie had three Chine fe Merchants in her,
and they told us they were going to meet a
large Veifel of their Conntry, which came from
'tonqulriy and lay in a River in Formofa whole Name
I forget, and they were going to the Fhillfpne
Iflands, with Silks, Mullins, Callicces, and fuch
Goods as are the Product o^Chinaj and feme Gold ^
that their Bufinefs was to fell their Cargo, an4
buy Spices and European Good^.
"■^ ^ ' This
( HI )
This fuited very well with our Purpofe ^ fb I
refolved now that we would leave off being Py-
rates, and turn Merchants ^ fb we told them
what Goods we had on board, and that if they
would bring their Super-Cargoes or Merchants
on board, we would trade with them. They
were very willing to trade with us, but terribly
afraid to truft iis •, nor was it an uiijufi: Fear,
for we had plundered them already of what they
had. On the other Hand, v^e were as diffident
as they, and very uncertain what to do ; but
William the Quaker put this Matter into a Way
of Barter. Be came to me, and told me he re-
ally thought the Merchants look'd like fair Men^j
that meant honeflly •, and befides, fays Wdliamy
it is their Iiiterefi: to be honeft now ^ for as they
know upon what Terms we got the Goods we
are to truck with them, fb th-Qj know we can
afford good Pennyworths ', and in the next Place^
it faves them going the \vho.le Voyage : ^60 chat
the Southerly Monfoons yet holding,, if they
traded with us, they could iminediately return
with their Cargo to China^ tho by. the Way we af-
terwards found they intended for Japan. But that
was all one, for by this Means they fav'd at
leafl eight Months Voyage. Upon thefe Foun-
dations William faid he was fatisfied we might
trufl them : For, fnys William^ I would as fboii
trufl a Man whofe Inter eft binds him to be jufl
to me, as a Man whofe Principle binds himfelf.
Upon the whole, William propofed that two of
the Merchants fhould be left on board our Ship
as Hoftages, and that Part of our Goods ihould
be loaded in their Veifel, and let the third ga
\vith it iiit'C' the Port where their Ship lay •, and
\s^hen he kad delivered the Spices, he fhouid
S 2 bring
( H4- )
bring back fuch things as it was agreed ihould be
exchanged. This was concluded on, :ind William
the Quaker ventured to go along with them, which
upon my Word I ihould not have cared to have
done, nor was I willing that he ihould-, but he
went ftill upon the Kotion, that it was their In-
tereft to treat h'm friendly.
In the mean time we came to an Anchor un-
der a little Ifland, in the Latitude of 23 Degrees,
28 Minutes, being juft under the Korthern Tro-
pick, and about twenty Leagues from the Ifland.
Here we lay thirteen Days, and I began to be ve-
ry uneafy for my Friend William^ for they had
promifed to be back again in four Days, which
they might very ealily have done. However, at
the End of thirteen Days we Aiw three Sail coming
direftly to us, which a little furprized us all at
firfl, not knowing what might be the Cafe, and
we began to put our felves in a Poiture of De-
fence ; but as they came nearer us, we were fbon
fatisfy'd : For the firft Veffel was that which Wil-
liam went in , who carried a Flag of Truce,
and in a few Hours they all came to an Anchor,
and William came on board us with a little Boat,
with the Chitjefe Merchant in his Company, and
two other Merchants, which feem'd to be a kind
of Brokers for the reft.
Here he gave us an Account, how civilly he
had been ufed, how they had treated liim with
all imag'nable Franknefs and Opennefs, that tliey
Iiad not only given him the full Value of his
Spices and other Goods which he carry'd, in Gold,
by p;ood Weight, but had loaded the VelTel again
with llich Goods as he knew we were willing to
trade for-, and that afterwards they had refblved
to bring the great Ship out of the Harbour, to-
lye
■ ( H5 ;
lye where we were, that fo we might make what
Bargain we thought fit ^ only William faid he had
promifed in our Name, that we ikould ufe no
Violence with them, nor detain any of the Vef-
fels after we had done trading with them. I told
him, we would ftrive to outdo them in Civility,
and that we would make good every Part of h\s
Agreement. In Token whereof I caufed a white
Flag likewife to be fpread at the Poop of our
great Ship, which was the Signal agreed on.
As to the third Velfel which came with them,
it was a kind of Bark of the Country, who
having Intelligence of our Defign to traffick,
came off to deal with us, bringing a great deal
of Gold, and fome Provifions, which at that time
we were very glad of.
In iliort, we traded upon the high Seas with \
thefe Men, and indeed we made a very good Mar- ■
ket, and yet fold Thieves Pennyworths too. We
Ibid here above fixty Ton of Spice, chiefly Cloves
and Nutmegs, and above two Hundred Bales of
European Goods •, fuch as Linnen and WoUen Ma-
nufactures. We confidered we fhould have Occa*
fion for fome fuch things our felves, and fb we
kept a good Quantity of Englifli Stuffs, CI oaths.
Bays, &c. for our felves. 1 ihall not take up
any of the little Room I have left here, with the
further Particulars of our Trade ^ 'tis enough to
mention, that except a Parcel of Tea, and twelve
Bales of fine Chim wrought Silks, we took nothing
in Exchange for our Goods but Gold : So that the
Sum we took here in that glittering Commodity^
amounted to above Fifty Thoufand Ounces good
Weight.
When we had finished our Barter, we reftored
the Hoftages, aaid gave the three Merchants about
S 3 the
( H^ )
the Quantity of Twelve Hundred Weight of-
ISULmei^s, aud as many of Cloves, with a hand^
ijbm Preient ofEurofean Linnen and Stulf for them-
felves, as a Recompence for what we had taken
from rhem •, and io we fent them away exceeding-
ly well fadsf/'d.
Here ir was that William g.'^ve me an Account,
that while he was on board the Jafonefe Vede]^ he
inet with a kind of iveligious, or Japan Priefl:,
who fpoke fome Words of Engiijh to hirn ; and
being very inquifiiive to know how he came to
learn any of thofe Words, he ..old him, that there
v/as in his Cnuntry thirteen Englijhmcn '^ he caited
them JF.nglljhmcn very articulately and diftir/rly,
for he ha a converled with them very frequently
and freely : He faid they were all that were left
of two and thirty Men, who came on Shore on the
ivorih :5ide of Japan^ being driven upon a great
Rock in a ftormy Night, where they loft their
Ship, and the reft of their Men were drowned:
That he had perfvvaded the King of his Country
to fend Boats off to the Rock or Ifland, where
the Ship was loft, to fave the reft of the Men,
and to bring them on Shore ^ which was done,
and they were uled very kindly, and had Houfes
built for them, and Land given them to plant for
Pr()vifion, and that they lived by themlelves.
He faid he wer.i r: equently among them, to
perfwade them to worfhip their God, an Idol, I
fuppofe, of their own making, which he faid
they ungratefully refufed :> and that therefore the
King had once or twice ordered them to be all put
to Death •, but that, as he faid^ he had prevailed
upon the King to Ipare them, and let them live
their own Way, as long as they were quiet and
peace-
peaceable, and did not go about to withdraw
others from the Worfliip of the Country.
I ask'd Williamy why he did not enquire from
whence they came ? I did, [aid William^ for how
could I but think it ftrange, faid he^ to hear him
talk of Engli^j Men on the North Side of Jafan.
Well, faid I, what Account did he give of it ?
An Account, faid [j^/7//^;?^, that will llir prize thee,
and all the World after thee, that fliall hear of it,
and which makes me wifh thou wouldfl go up to
Japan, and find them out. What do ye mean,
faid I ? Whence could they come ? Why, fays
William, he pull'd out a little Book, and in it a
Piece of Paper, where it was written in an EngUjli
Man's Hand, and in plain EngUSlj Words, thus ;
and fays William, I read it my felf : We came from
Greenland, and from the North Vole, This indeed
was amazing to us all, and more to thofe Sea-
men among us who knew any thing of the in-
finite Attempts which had been made from £«-
rope, as well by the EngUjli as the Butch, to difco-
ver a PalTage' that Way into thofe Farts of the
World ^ and as William prefs'd us earneftly to go
on to the North, to refcue thofe poor Men, fo
the Ship's Company began to incline to it ^ and
in a Word, we all came to this, that we would
ftand in to the Shore of Formofa, to find this
Prieft again, and have a farther Account of it
all from him. Accordingly the Sloop went over,
but when they came there, the VefTels were very
unhappily fail'd, and this put an End to our En-
quiry after them, and perhaps may have difap-
pointed Mankind of one of the moft noble Dif-
coveries that ever was made, or will again be made
in the World, for the Good of Mankind in gene-
ral : But fo much for that.
S 4 Willi'
]
( ,^4 ' )
Willinm was fo iirxC^-fv at lofing this Oppor-
tunity, that he prefs'd us earneftly to go up to
Jafan^ to find out the fe Men. He tokfus, that
if it was nothing but to recover Thirteen ho-
r.eft poor Men from a kind of Captivity, which
they would otherwife never be redeemed from,
and where perhaps they might fome time or other
fte murdered by the barbarous People, in Defence
of their Idolatry :, it were very well worth our
while, and it would be in fome Meafiire making
amends for the Mifchiefs we had done in the
World: But we that had no Concern upon us
for the Mifchiefs we had done, had much lefs
about any Satisfaction to be made for it *, fo he
found that kind of Difcourfe would weigh very
little with us. Then he prefsM us very earneft-
ly to let him have the Sloop to go by himfelf,
and I told him I would not oppofe it •, but when
he came to the Sloop, none of the Men would
go with him *, for the Cafe was plain, they had
all a Share in the Cargo of the great Ship, as
well as in that of the Sloop, and the Richnefs
of the Cargo was fuch, that they would not leave
it by any means : So poor Willi am ^ much to h^s
Mortification, was obliged to give it over. Wiiat
became of thofe thirteen Men, or whether they
are not there ftill, I can give no Account of.
We were now at the End of our Cruile \ what
we had taken was indeed fo confiderable, that it
was not only enough to iatisfythe mofl: covetous
and the mofl ambitious Minds in the World, but
it did indeed fatisfy us :, and our Men declared
they did not deiire any m.ore. The next Motion
therefore was about going back, and the Way by
which we iliould perform the Voyage, fo as not
ro be attacFd by the Dutch in the Straits oi SurJy,
We
( H9 )
We had pretty well ftored our felves here with
Provifions, and it being now near the Return
of the Monlbons, we refolved to ftand away to
the Southward •, and not only to keep without
the Thillffine Iflands, that is to fay, to the Eaft-
ward of them, but to keep on to the Southward,
and fee if we could not leave, not only the Mo^
luccos^ or Spice lilands, behind us, but even Nova
Culnea and Nova Hollmdia alio ^ and fo getting
into the variable Winds , to the South of the
Tropick of Cafri corny fteer away to the Weft,
over the great Indian Ocean.
This was indeed at firft a monftrous Voyage
in its Appearance, and the Want of Provijflons
threaten'd us. William told us in fo many Words,
that it was impoffible we could carry Proviiions
enough to fubfift us for fuch a Voyage, and efpe-
cially frefh Water *, and that as there would be
no Land for us to touch at, where we could get
any Supply, it was a Madnefs to undertake it.
But I undertook to remedy this Evil, and
therefore defired them not to be iineafy at that,
for I knew we might fupply our felves at Min^
danao^ the moft Southerly liland of the Philips
pines. Accordingly, we let Sail, having taken
all the Provifions here that we could get, the
28th of September y the Wind veering a little at
firft from the Isl. N. W. to theN.E.byE. but
afterwards fettled about theK. E. and the E.N. E.
W^e were nine Weeks in this Voyage, having met
with feveral Interruptions by the \Veather, and
put in under the Lee of a fmall Illand in the La-
titude of 1(5 Degrees, 12 Minutes, of which we
never knew the Name, none of our Charts ha-
ving given any Account of it : I fay, we put in
Here, by reafon of a Grange Tornado or Hurricane,
which
( ^So )
"which brought us into a great deal of Danger.
Here we rode about fixteen Days, the Winds
being very tempeftuous, and the Weather un-
certain. However, we got fbme Provifions on
ishore, fuch as Plants and Roots, and a few Hoggs.
We believed there were Inhabitants on the Ifland,
but we faw none of them.
From hence, the Weather fettling again, we
went on, and came to the Southmoft Part of Mir?^
^anaoy where we took in frefli Water, and Ibme
Cows ; but the Climate was fo hot, that we did
not attempt to fait up any more, than fo as to
keep a Fortnight or three Weeks , and away
, we flood South ward croiling the Lhie , and
leaving GiMo on the Starboard Side, we coafted
the Country they call New Guiney^ where, in the
Latitude of eight Degrees South, we put in again
for Proviiions and W^ater, and where we found
Inhabitants, but they fled from us, and were alto-
gether inconver fable. From thence, failing flill
Southward, we left all behind us that any of
our Charts or Maps take any Notice of, and went
on till we came to the Latitude of 1 7 Degrees,
the Wind continuing flill N. E.
Here we made Land to the Weflward, v/hich
when we had kept in Siglit for three Days, coafl-
ing along the Shore, for the Diflance of about
four Leagues, we began to fear we fliould find
no Outlet Weft, and fo ihould be obliged to go
back again, and put in among the Molucca's at
lafc, but at length we found the Land break
off, and go trending away to the Wefl Sea, feem-
In^ to be all open to the South and S. W. and
a great Sea came rowling out of the South, which
gave us to underftand, that there was no Land
that Way for a great Way.
(^5» )
In a Word, we kept on our Courfe to the South, /
a little Wefterly, till we pafs'd the South Tro- ^
pick, where we found the Winds variable ; and
now we llood away fair Weft, and held it out
for about twenty Days, when we difcovered Land
right a-head, and on our Larboard Bow, we made
direftly to the Shore, being willing to take all Ad-
vantages now for fupplying our felves with frefh
Provifions and Water, knowing we were now en-
tring on that vaft unknown Indian Ocean, per-
haps the greateft Sea on the Globe, having with
very little Interruption of Iflands, a continued
Sea quite round the Globe.
We found a good Road here, and fome Peo-
ple on Shore ^ but when we landed, they fled
up the Country, nor would they hold any Cor-
refpondenee with us, or come near us, but iliot
at us feveral Times with Arrows as long as Laun-
ces. We fet up white Flags for a Truce, but
they either did not, or would not, underftand it :
On the contrary, they fhot our Flag of Truce
thro'feveraltimes with their Arrows :i lb that, in
a Word, we never came near any of them.
We found good Water here, tho' it was fbme-
thing diiEcult to get at it, but for living Crea-
tures we could lee none *, for the People, if they
had any Cattle, drove them all away, and ihewM
us nothing but themlelves, and that fometimes
in a threatning Pofture, and in Number ib great,
that made us fuppofe the Ifland to be greater than
we at firft imagined. It is true, they would not
come near enoiigh for us to engage* with them,
at l^^aft, not openly ^ but they came near enough
for us to fee them, and by the Help of our
Glafies, to lee that they were clothed and arm'd,
but their Clothes were only about their lower
and
( 252 ;
and middle Farts •, that they had long Launce??,
like Half pikes, in their Hands, befides Bows and
Arrows •, that they had great high Things on
their Heads, made, as we believed, of Feathers,
and whxh look'd fomething like our Grenadi-
ers Caps in England.
When we faw them lo iliye, that they would
not come near us, our Men began to range over
the Ifland, if it w^^s fuchy for we never furrounded
ify to fearch for Cattel, J^nd for any of the In-
dians Plantations, for Fru'cs or Plants •, but they
foon found, to their Coft, that they were to ufe
more Caution than that came to, and that they
were to difcover perfeftly every Bulli and every
Tree, before they ventured abroad in the Coun-
try ; for, abonc fourteen of our Men going fur-
ther than the reft, into a Part of the Country
which feemed to be plarfed, as they thought,
for it did but feem fb, only I think it was over-
grown with Canes, fuch as we make our Cane
Chairs with : I fay, venturing too far, they were
fuddenly attacked with a Shower of Arrows from
almoft every Side of them, as they thought,
out of the Tops of the Trees.
They had nothing to do, but to fly for it,
which however they could not refolve on, till
five of them were wounded -^ nor had they efca-
Y>ed fo, if one of them had not been fo much
wiler, or thoughtfuller tha^i the reft, as to con-
sider, that tho' they could not fee the Enemy,
fo as to fhoot at them, \^et perhaps the Noife
of their Shot might terrify them, and that they
•fhould rather fire at a Venture. Accordingly
Ten of them faced about, and tired at random
any where among; the Canes.
The
( ^-53 )
The Noife and the Fire not only terrify'd
tlie Enemy, but, as they believed, their Shot had
luckily hit fome of them :, for they found not on-
ly that the Arrows which came thick among
them before, ceafed, but they heard the IJians
halloo, after their Way, to one another, and make
a ftrange Noife more uncouth and inimitably
feange, than any they had ever heard, more like
the Howling and Barking of wild Creatures ia
the Woods, than like the Voice of Men, only
that ibmetimes they feemed to fpeak Words.
They obferv'd alfo, that this Noife of the Indl"
ans went farther and farther off, fb that they were
fatisfied the Indians fled away, except on one Side,
where they heard a doleful Groaning and Howl-
ing, and where it continued a good while, which
they fiippofed was from fome or other of them
being wounded, and howling by reafon of their
Wounds ; or kill'd, and others howling over
them : But our Men had enough of making Dil-
coveries •, fo they did not trouble themfelves to
look farther, but refolved to take this Opportuni-
ty to retreat. But the worft of their Adventure
was to come % for as they came back, they pafs*d
by a prodigious great Trunk of an old Tree,
what Tree it was they faid they did not know, buc
it ftood like an old decay'd Oak in a Park, where
the Keepers in England take a Standy as they call
it, to flioot a Deer, and it ftood juft under the
fteep Side of a great Rock or Hill, that our Peo-
ple could not lee what was beyond it.
As they came by this Tree, they wer^ of a fud-
den {hot at from the Top of the Tree, with feven
Arrows and three Launces, which, to our great
Grief, kill'd two of our Men, and wounded three
more. 1 his was the more furprizing, becaufe
being
( ^H )
being without any Defence, and Co near the Trees,
they expected more Launces and Arrows every
Moment ^ nor would flying do them any Service,
the Indians being, as appeared, very good Markf-
men. In this Extremity they had happily this
Preience of Mind, viz,^ to run clofe to the Tree,
and ftand, as it were under it •, fo that thofe
above could not come at, or fee them, to throw
their Launces at them. This fucceeded, and gave
them Time to confider what to do : They knew
their Enemies and Murtherers were above, for
they heard them talk, and thofe above knew
thole were below ;, but they below were obli-
ged to keep clofe for fear of their Launces from
above. At length, one of our Men looking a
little more llridly than the refl, . .thought he
law the Head of one of the Indians ^ jufl over a
dead Limb of the Tree, which, it feems, the
Creature fat upon* One Man immediately fired,
and leveirdhis Piece fo true, that the Shot went
thro' the Fellow's Head, and down he fell out of
the Tree immediately, and came upon the Ground
with fuch Force, with the Height of his Fall,
that if he had not been killed with the Shot,
he would certainly have been killed with dajfhing
his Body againfl: the Ground.
This io frighted themfelves, that befides the
howling Noife they made in the Tree, our Men
heard a ftrange Clutter of them in the Body of
the Tree, from whence they concluded they had
made the Tree hollow, and were got to hide
themfelves there. Kow, had this been the Cafe,
they were fecure enough from our Men ^ for it
was impoinble any of our Men could get up the
Tree on the Out-fide, there being no Branches
to climb hy , and, to ihoot at the Tree, that
they
( ^55 )
they tried ieveral times to no Purpofe, for the
Tree was fo thick, that no Shot would enter
it. They made no Doubt however, but that they
had their Enemies in a Trap, and that a fmall
Siege would either bring them down Tree and all,
or ftarve them out: So they refblved to keep
their Poft, and fend to us for Help. According-
ly two of them came away to us for more Hands,
and particularly defired, that Ibme of our Car-
penters might come with Tools, to help cut down
the Tree, or at leafl to cut down other Wood,
and let Fire to it •, and That they concluded
would not fail to bring them out.
Accordingly our Men went like a little Ar-
my, and with mighty Preparations for an En-
terprize, the like of which has Icarce been ever
heard, to form the Siege of a great Tree. How-
ever, when they came there, they found the ^
Task diificult enough, for the old Trunk was in-
deed a very great one, and very tall, being at
, leaft Two and Twenty Foot high, with feven old
Limbs ll-anding cut every Way on the Top, but
decay 'd, and very few Leaves, if any, left on it.
William the Qiiaker, whofe Curiofity led him
to go among the reft, propofed, that they fhould
make a Ladder, and get up upon the Top, and
then throw Wild-fire into the Tree, and finoke
them out. Others propofed going back, and
getting a great Gun out of the Ship, which
fhould fplit the Tree in Pieces with the Iron
Bullets: Others, that they fhould cut down a
great deal of Wood, and pile it up round the
Tree, and fet it on Fire, and to burn the Tree,
and the Indians in it.
Thefe Confultations took up our People no
lefs than two or three Days, in all which Time
they
( --=56 )
they heard nothing of the fuppofed Garrlfon
within this wooden Caftle, nor any Noile with-
in. Willi aril's Frojeft was ftrft gone about, and
a large ftrong Ladder was made, to fcale this
wooden Tower ^ and in two or three Hours time,
it would have been ready to mount : When, on
a fudden, they heard the Koiie of the Indians m
the Body of the Tree again, and a little after, fe-
veral of them appeared in the Top of the Tree,
and threw Ibme Launces down at our Men •, one
of which ftruck one of our Seamen a-top of the
Shoulder, and gave him fuch a defperate Wound,
that the Surgeons not only had a great deal of
Difficulty to cure him, but the poor Man endu-
red fuch horrible Tortures, that we all faid they
had better have killed him outright. However,
he was cured at I aft, tho' he never recovered the
perfeft Ufe of his Arm, the Launce having cut
ibme of the Tendons on the Top of the Arm,
near the Shoulder, which, as I fuppofe, perfor-
med the Office of JVIotioa to the Limb before ;
4b that t\iQ poor Man 'was a Criple all the Days of
his Lite. Bat to return to the defperate Rogues
in the Tree ; our Men ihot at them, but did not
find they had hit tliem, or any of them ^ but as
loon as ever they fhot ac rhem, 'they could hear
them huddle down into the Trunk of the Tree
again, and there to be fure they Vv^ere fafe.
Well, however, it was this which put by the
ProjeO: of PF27///jJw's Ladder •, for when it was done,
who would venture up am.ong fuch a Troop of
bold Creatures as were there? And who, they
fuppofed, were defperate by their Circumftances :
And as but one Man at a time could go up, they
began to think that it would not do \ and in-
deed I was of the Opinion, for ahoKt this time I
was
( 257 )
was come to their Jlffijlance^ that the going up the
Ladder would not do, unlefs it was thus, that
a Man fliould, as it were run juft up to the Top,
and throw fome Fire-works into the Tree, and
ib come down again ^ and this we did two or
three Times, but found no Effeft of it. At laft,
one of our Gunners made a Stink-pot, as we cal-
led it, being a Compofition which only fmokes,
but does not flame or burn ; but withal the
Smoke of it is fo thick, and the Smell of it ib
intolerably naufeous, that it is not to be fuffe-
red. This he threw into the Tree himfelf, and
we waited for the EfTefl: of it, but heard or faw
nothing all that Kight, or the next Day •, ib we
concluded the Men within were all liTiother'd :
When, on a fudden, the next Night, we heard
them upon the Top of the Tree again, fhouting
•and hallooing like Madmen.
We concluded, as any body would, that this
was to call for Help, and we refolved to conti-
2iue our Siege •, for we were all enraged to fee
our felves fb baulk'd by a few wild People whom
we thought we had fafe in our Clutches-, and
indeed never was there fo many concurring Cir-
cumftances to delude Men, in any Cafe we had
met with. We relblved however to try another
Stink-pot the next Night, and our Engineer and
Gunner had got it ready, when hearing a Noife
of the Enemy, on the Top of the Tree, and in
the Body of the Tree, I was not willing to let
the' Gunner go up the Ladder, which, I faid,
would be but to be certain of being murthered.
However, he found a Medium for it, and thnt was
to go up a few Steps, and with a long Pole iii
his Hand, to throw it in upon the Top of the
Ti'ee, the Ladder beijig fcanding all this while
T againft
(^58)
flgainfl: the Top of the Tree •, but when tlie Gun-
ner, with his Machine at the Top of his Pole,
came to the Tree with three other Men to help
h-'m, behold the Ladder was gone.
This perfe^ly confounded us, and we now con*
eluded thQ Indians in the Tree had by this Piece
of Kegligence taken the Opportunity, and come
all down the Ladder, made their Efcape, and had
carried away the Ladder with them. I laugh'd
mofl: heartily at my Friend Wllliavi^ who, as I
faid, had the Direction of the Siege, and had fet
up a Ladder, for the Garrifon, as we called themy
to get down upon^ and run away. But when
Day-Light came, we were all fet to rights again ;
for there ftood our Ladder haufd up on the Top
of the Tree, with about Half of it in the Hol-
low of the Tree, and the other Half upright in
the Air. Then we began to laugh at the Indi-
ans for Fools, that they could not as well have
found their Way down by the Ladder, and have
made their Efcape, as to have pull'd it up by main
Strength into tHe Tree.
We then refolved upon Fire, and fb to put an
End to the Work at once, and burn the Tree
and its Inhabitants together-, and accordingly
we went to Work to cut Wood, and in a few
Hours time we got enough, as we thought,
together-, and piling it up round the Bottom
of the Tree, we let it on Fire : So waiting at a
Diiiance, to fee when the Gentlemens Quarters
being too hot for them, they would come flying
out at the Top. But we were quite confounded,
when, on a fudden, we found the Fire all put
out by a great Quantity of Water thrown upon
it. V\' e then thought the Devil mufl be in them
t& ]>e fure. Says WtlUamj this is certainly the
cun-
f ^59 ^
cunningeft Piece of Indian Engineering that ever
was heard of, and there can be but one thing more
to gtieis at, be fides Witchcraft and Dealing with
the Devil, which I believe not one Word of^ fays he ^
and that niiift be, that this is an artificial Tree,
or a natural Tree artificially made hollow down
into the Earth, thro' Root and all; and that thefe
Creatures have an artificial Cavity underneath it^
quite into the Hill, or a Way to go thro', anci
under the Hill, to fbme other Place, and where
that other Place is, we know not , but if it be
not our own Fault, Fll find the Place, and fol-
low them into it, before I am two Days older.
He then called the Carpenters to know of them,
if they had any large Saws that would cut thro"
the Body, and they told him they had not any
Saws that were long enough, nor could Men
work into fuch a monftrous old Stump in a great
while*, but that they would go to W^ork with
it with, their Axes, and undertake to cut it dowji
in two Days, and ftock up the Root of it in tv/o
more. But William was for another Way, which
proved much better than all this ; for he was
for fi lent Work, that, ifpoilible, he might catch
fbme of the Fellows in it *, fo he fets twelve
?vlen to it with large Augurs, to bore great Hole >
into the Side of the Tree, to go almoft thro', but
not quite thro' •, which Holes were bored with-
out Noife, and when they were done, he filled
them all with Gun-Powder, flopping ftrong Plugs
bolted crofs-waysinto the Holes, and then boring
a Planting Hole of a lefs Size down into the greater
Hole, all which were fill'd with Powder, and at
once blown up. When they took Fire, they
made fuch a Noife, and tore and fplit the Tree
in fo many Places, and in fuch a Manner^ that
>. T 2 we
( a6o )
we could fee plainly, fuch another Blaft would
demolif>i it, and fo it did. Thus at the fecond
time we could at two or three Places put our
Hands into them, and difcovered the Cheat,
namely, that there was a Cave or Hole dug in-
to the Earth, from, or thro' the Bottom of the
Hollow, tind that it had Communication with
another Cave further in, where we heard the
Voices of feveral of the wild Folks calling and
talking to one another.
When we cam.e thus far we had a great Mind
to get at them, and William defired, that three
Me2i might be given him with Hand-Grenadoes,
a> d he promifed to go down firft, and boldly he
did fo ; for William^ give him his due, had the
Heart of a Lion.^
They hadPiftols in their Hands, and Swords
by their Sides •, but, as they had taught the In^
d:ans before, by their Stink-Pots, the Indians re-
turned them in their own Kind, for they made
liich a Smoke come up out of the Entrance into
the Cave or Hollow, that William and his three Men^
were glad to come running out of the Cave, and
out of the Tree too, for mere want of Breath,
and indeed they were almoft ilified.
Never was a Fortification fo well defended, or
AlTailants ib many ways defeated; we were
now for giving it over, and particularly I called
WiUit^m^ and told him, I^could not but laugh to
lee us fpinning out our Time here for nothing ;
tliat I could not imagine what we were doing,,
that it was certain the Rogues that were in it
I were cunning to the lafl Degree, and it would
vex any Body to be fo baulked by a few naked
ignorant Fellows y but ftill it was not worth our
v^hile to puih it any further,, nor was there any
thing
( ^6i ;
thing that I knew of to be got by the Conqueft
when it was made^ lb that I thought it high time
to give it over.
William acknowledged, that what 1 faid was
luft, and that there was nothing but our Curio-
iity to be gratified in this Attempt^ and tho",
as he faid J he was very defirous to have
fearched into the Thing, yet he would not infift
upon it, fo we refolved to quit it, and come
away, which we did. However, William faid,
before we went, he would have this Satisflidion
of them, viz., that he burnt down the Tree and
ftopt up the Entrance into the Cave . While he
was doing this, the Gunner told him, he would
have one Satisfaftion of the Rogues, and this
was, that he would make a Mine of it, and fee
which way it had Vent : Upon this he fetches
two Barrels of Powder out of the Ships, and
placed them in the Inilde of the hollow Cave, as
far in as he durft go to carry them, and then
filling up the Mouth of the Cave where the Tree
flood, and ramming it fufficiently hard, leaving
only a Pipe or Touch-hole, he gave Fire to it,
and flood at a Diftanee to fee which way it
would operate, when, on the flidden, he found
the Force of the Powder burft its way out among
fome Bufhes on the other Side the 'little Hill I
mentioned, and that it came roaring out there
as out of the Mouth of a Cannon ; immediate-
ly running thither we faw the Effects of the
Powder.
• Firft, We faw that there was the other Mouth
of the Cave, which the Powder had ib torn and
open'd, that the loofe Earth was fo fillen in
again, that nothing of Shape could be difcerned •,
but there we faw what was become of the Garri^
T 3 t^
( a6r )
H)n of Indinns too, who had given us all this
Trouble^ for fome of them had no Arms, fome
ro Leiis, fome no Head, fome lay half buried
in the Rubbifh of the Mine, that is to fay, in
tie loofe Earth that fell in^' and, in ihort,
there was a miferable Havock made of them
al', for we had good Reafon to believe, not one
of rhem that were in the Infide could efcape,
but rather were fhot out of the Mouth of the
Cave like a Bullet out of a Gun.
We had now our fml Satisfaction of the Indl-
iws^ but, in fhort, this was a lofnig Voyage, for
we had two Men killed, one quite crippled,
f ve more wounded ^ we fpent two Barrels of
Powder, and eleven Days Time, and all to get
the Underftanding how to make an Indian Mine,
or how to keep Garrilbn in a hollow Tr<fe, and'
with this Wit bought at this dear Price, we
c?me away, having taken in Ibme frefh Water,
but got no frefh Proviiioris.
We then confidered what we ihould do to get
bi'ck again to Madagafcjtr ^ we were much about
the L atitude of the Cape of Gocd Hofe^ but had
iiich a very long Run, and were neither lure
of meeting with fair Winds, or with any
Land in the Way, that we knew not" what to
think of it. William was our laft Refbrt in this
Cafe again, and he was very plain with us.
Vnend^ f aid he ^ to CA?% WJLMO% what Oc-
cafion haft thou to run the Venture of ftarving,
merely for the Pleafure of faying, thou haft
been where no Body ever was before ^ there are
a gr^at many Places nearer home, of which thou
jnayeft fay the fame thing, at a lefs Expence ; 1
fee no Occafion thou haft of keeping thus far
i^outhj aj>y longer than till you are fure you are
to
to the Weft End of lava and Sumatra^ and then
thou may'ft ftand away Korth towards CcjUn^
and the Coaft of Coromandcl and AladeraSy where
thou may'ft get both frefli Water, and frelli
Provifions, and to that Part it's likely we may
holdout well enough with the Stores that we have
ah'eady.
This was wholeibme Advice, and fuch as was
not to be flighted, fo we ftood away to the Weft,
keeping between the Latitude of 31, and 35, and
had very good Weather and fair Winds for aboat
ten Days Sail, by which Time, by our Reckoning,
we were clear ofthelfles, and might run away
to the North •, and, if we did not fall in with
Ceylon^ we fliouLd at leaft go into the great deep
Bay, of Bengal,
' But we were out in our Reckoning a great
deal_, for when we had flood due Korth for
about fifteen or fixteen Degrees, we met with
Land again on our Star-board Bow, about three
Leagues Diftance, fo we came to an Anchor
about half a League from it, and Manned out
our Boats to fee what fort of a Country it was :
We found it a very good one, freili Water eafy
to come at, but no Cattle, that we could fee, or
Inhabitants, and we were very fhye of fearching
too far after them, left we fliould make fuch
another Journey as we did laft ^ fo that we let
rambling alone, and chofe rather to take what
we could find, which was only a few wild Man-
goes, and fome Plants of feveral Kinds, which
we knew not the Names of
We made no Stay here, but put to Sea again,
N. W. by N. but had little Wind for a Fortnlu;ht
more, when we made Land again, and flanding
in with the Shore, we were farprized to find
T 4 out
our felves on tlie South Shore o? lava% and juft
as we were comini^; to an Anchor, we faw a Boat
carrying Dntch Colours, failing along Shore. We
were not follicitous to fpeak with them, or any-
other of their Nation, but left it indifferent to
our People, when they went on Shore, to fee
the Dutchmen^ or not to fee them •, our Bufinefs
was to get Provifions, which indeed by this time
were very fnort with us.
We refblved to go on Shore with our Boats in
the moft convenient Place we could find, and to
look out n proper Harbour to bring the Ship
into, leaving it to our Fate, whether we fliould
meet with Friends or Enemies, refblving howe-
ver, not to ftay any confiderable Time, at leaft,
not long enough to have ExprefTes fent crofs the
Ifxand to Batdvla^ and for Ships to come round
from thence to attack us.
We found, according to our Defire, a very-
good Harbour, where we rode in {e^en Fathom
Water, well defended from the Weather, what-
ever might happen, and here we got frefh Pro-
vifions, fuch as good Hogs, and fome Cows • and
that we might lay in a little Store, we kill'd
fixteen Cows, and pickled and barrelled up the
Flefh as well as we could be fuppofed to do in the
Latitude of eight Degrees from the Line.
W^e did all this in about h-^o; Days, and filled
our Casks with Water, and the laft Boat was
coming off v/ith Herbs and Roots^ we being un-
moor'd) and our Fore Top-Sail loofe for failing,
when we fpy'd a large Ship to the Northward,
bearing down direClly upon us^ we knewnot what
fhe might be, but concluded the worft, and made
all po&ble Haffe to get our Anchor up, and get
under Sail^ that wc might be in a Readinefs to
fee what flie had to fay to us, for we were un-
der no great Concern for one Ship ♦, but our No-
tion was, that we fliould be attacked by three or
four together.
By the time we had got up our Anchor, and
the Boat was ftow'd, the Ship was within a League
of us, and, as we thought, bore down to engage
us ^ fo we Ipread our black' Flag or Ancient on
the Poop, and the bloody Flag at the Top-maft
Head, and having made a clear Ship, we llretcht
away to the Weftward, to get the Wind of him.
They had, it feems, quite miftaken us before,
expeding nothing of an Enemy or a Pyrat!e in
thofe Seas, and not doubting but we had been
one of their own Ships, they feem'd to be in
fomeConfufionwhen they found their M'flake ^ lb
they immediately haul'd up on a-Wind on t'other
Tack, and ilood edging in for the Shore, towards
the Eaftermoft Fart of the If] and. Upon this we
tack'd, and flood after him with all the Sail we
could, and in two Hours came almofl within Gun
Shot. Tho' they crowded all the Sail they could
lay on, there was no Remedy but to engage us,
and they fbon faw their Inequality of Force.
We fired a Gun for them to bring to, fo they
Mann'd out their Boat, and fent to us with a
Flag of Truce. We fent back the Boat, but
with this Anfwer to the Captain, that he had
nothing to do, but to ftrike, and bring his Ship
to an Anchor under our Stern, and come on board
us himfelf, when he fhould know our Demands ^
but that however, fmce he had not yet put us
to the Trouble of forcing him, which we faw we
were able to do, we affured them, that the Cap-
tain fhould return again in Safety, and all his
Men ^ and that fupplyi^g us with fuch things as
we
( 266 )
we fliould demand, his Ship fhould not be plun-
dered. They went back with this MelTage, and
it was foroe time after they were on board, be-
fore they ftruck, which made us begin to think
they refufed it *, fo we fired a Shot, and in a few
Minutes more we perceived their Boat put off ^
and as fbon as the Boat put off, the Ship flruck,
and came to an Anchor, as was dir^ded.
When the Captain came on board, we deman-
ded an Account of their Cargo, which was chief-
ly Bales of Goods from Bengal for Bantam* We
told them our prefent Want was Provifions,
which they had no need of, being juft at the
End of their Voyage •, and that if they would
fend their Boat on Shore with ours, and pro-
cure us fix and twenty Head of black Cattel,
threefcore Hogs, a Quantity of Brandy and Ar-
rack, and three Hundred Bulhels of Rice, we
would let them go free.
As to the Rice, they gave us fix Hundred
Bufhels, which they had aOiually on board, to-
gether with a Parcel Shipt upon Freight. Alfb
they gave us thirty middling Casks of very good
Arrack, but Beef and Pork they had none. How-
ever, they went on Shore with our Men, and
bought eleven Bullocks and fifty Hogs, which
were pickled up for our Occafion, and upon the
Supplies of Provifion from Shore, we difmifs'd
tliem and their Ship.
We lay here feven Days before we could fur-
nilh our'felves with the Provifions agreed for,
nnd fbme of the Men fancied the Dutchmen were
contriving our Deftruftion ^ but they were very
honefl, and did what they could to furniih the
iBlack Cattel, but found it impolTible to fupply
fo many. So they came and told u5 ingenuouUy,
" ~ ' that
( a67 )
that unlefs we could ftay a while longer, they
could get no more Oxen or Cows than thole
Eleven, with which we were obliged to be fatil-
fied, taking the Value of them in other things,
rather than flay longer there. On our Side we
were punftual with them in obferving the Condi-
tions we had agreed on, nor would we let any.
of our Men fo much as go on board them, or
fuffer any of their Men to come on board us •
for had any of our Men gone on board, no body
could have anfwer'd for their Behaviour, any
more than if they had been on Shore in an
Enemy's Country.
We were now Victualled for our Voyage, and ^
as we 5aatj:erM not Purcl)a|e, we went merrily |
on for the Coaft of Cey lor? ^ where we intended'
to touch to get frefli Water agair^ and more
Provifions *, and we had nothing material offered
in this Part of the Voyage, only that we met
with contrary Winds, and were above a Month
in the FafTage.
We put in upon the South Coaft of the Ifland,
defiring to have as little to do with the Dutch
as we co.uld v and as the Dutch were Lords of
the Country as to Commerce, fo they are more
fo of the Sea Coaft, where they have feveral
Forts, and in particular, have all the Cinnamon,
which is the Trade of that liland.
We took m frefti Water here, and ibme Pro^
vifions, but did not much trouble our felve^
about laying in any Stores, our Beef and Hogs
which we got at lava being not yet all gone by
a good deal. We had a little Skirmifli on Shore
here with fome of the People of the Ifland, fonrn
of our Men having been a little too familiar with
the Homely Ladies of the Country ^ for Homely
indeed
( 268 ;
indeed they were, to fuch a Degree, tkat if our
Men had not had good Stomachs that Way, they
would Icarce have touch'd any of them.
I could never fully get it out of our Men what
they did, they were fo true to one another in
their Wickednefs -^ but I underftood in the main,
that it was Ibme barbarous thing they had done,
and that they had like to have paid dear for
it ', for the Men refented it to the laft Degree,
and gathered in fuch Numbers about them, that
had not fixteen more of our Men, in another
Boat, come all in the Nick of Time, juft to re-
scue our firft Men, who were but Eleven, and
fo fetch them off by main Force, they had been
all cut off, the Inhabitants being no lefs than two
or three Hundred, armed with Darts and Laun-
ces, the ufual Weapons of the Country, and
which they are very dexterous at the throwing,
even fo dexterous, that it was fcarce credible :
And had our Men flood to fight them, as fome
of them were bold enough to talk of, they had
been all overwhelmed and kill'd. As it was,
feventeen of our Men were wounded, and Ibme
of them very dangeroufly. But they were more
frighted than hurt too ; for every one of them
gave themfelves over for dead Men, believing
the Launces were poifbned. But William was our
Comfort here too ^ for when two of our Surge-
ons were of the fame Opinion, and told the Men
foolifhly enough, that they would die, William
chearfully went to Work with them, and cured
them all but one, who rather died by drinking
Ibme Arrack Punch, than of his Wound, the
Excefs of Drinking throwing him into a Fever.
We had enough of Ceylon^ tho' fome of our
People were for going afliore again, fixty or
• , ^ ; ■ ' leventy:
(^h )
ftventy Men together, to be revenged-, but'
William perfwaded them againft it, and his Re-
putation was lo great among the Men, as well as
with us that were Commanders, that he could
influence them more than any of us.
They were mighty warm upon their Revenge,
and they would go on Shore, and deftroy five
Hundred of them. Well, fays William^ and fup-
pofe you do, what are you the better ? Why-
then, fays one of them, fpeaking for the refi,
we fhall have our Satisfaction. Well, and what
will you be the better for that, fays William?
They could then fay nothing to that. Then,
fays' Williamy if I miftake not, your Bufmefs is
Money : Now I defire to know, if you conquer
and kill two or three Thoufand of thefe poor
Creatures, they have no Money, pray what will
you get ? They are poor naked Wretches, what
ihall you gain by them ? But then laid William^
perhaps, in doing this, you may chance to lofe
Half a Score of your own Company, as 'tis
very probable you may, pray, what Gain is in
it, and what Account can you give the Captain
for his loft Men ? In fhort, William argued fo
effeftually, that he convinc'd them that it was
mereMurther, to dofo- and that the Men had a
Right to their own, and that they had no Right
to take them away : That it was deftroying
innocent Men, who had aded no other wife than
as the Laws of Nature dictated ; and that it
would be as much Murther to do fo, as to meet
a Man on the High-way, and kill him, for the
mere lake of it, in cold Blood, not regarding whe-
ther he had done any Wrong to us or no,
A Tht'^e Realbns prevailed with them at iaft, and
fjhey were content to go away, and leave them
as
( 270 )
as they found them. In the firftSklrmifli they
Skilled between fixty and feventy Men , and
wounded a great many more, but they had no-
thing, and our People got nothhig by it, but the
Lofs of one Man's Life^ and the Wounding fixteen
more, as above.
But another Accident brought us to a Neceility
of further Bufinefs with thele People, and indeed
we had like to have put an End to our Lives and Ad-
ventures all at once among them -^ for ^ about three
Days after our Putting out to Sea, from the Place
where we had that Skirmifli, we were attack'd
by a violent Storm of Wind from the South, or
rather a Hurricane of Wind from all the Points
Southward, for it blew in a moft defperate and
furious Manner, from the S. E. to the S. W.
one Minute at one Point, and then inftantly turn-
ing about again to another Point, but with the
fame Violence ^ nor were we able to work the
Ship in that Condition : So that the Ship I was
in fplit three Topfails, and at laft brought the
Main Top-maft by the Board •, and in a Word,
we were once or twice driven right afliore •, and
one time, had not the Wind fkifted the very
Moment it did^ we had been daih'd in a Thou-
land Pieces upon a great Ledge of Rocks, V'/h.ich
jay off about Half a League from the Shore ; but,
as I have fiid, the Wind fliifting very often, and
at that time coming to the E. S. E. we ftretcht
off, and got above a League more Sea-room in
Half an Hour. After that, it blew with fome
Fury S. W. by S. then S. W. by W. and put us
back again a great Way to the Eaftward of the
Ledge of Rocks, where \^e lound a fair Opening
between the Rocks and the Land, and. endea-
voured to come to an Anchor there ^ bui we
found
( 271 )
found there was no Ground lit to Anchor m, and
that we ihould lofe our Anchors, there being no-
thing but Rocks. We ftood thro' the Opening,
which held about four Leagues -^ the Storm con-
tinued, and now we found a dreadful foul Shore,
and knew not what Courfe to take. We look'd
out very narrowly for fome River, or Creek, or
Bay, where we might run in, and come to an
Anchor, but found none a great while. At length
we faw a great Head-Land lye out far South into /
the Sea, and that to fuch a Length, that, in fhort^ /
we law plainly, that if the Wind held where it
was, we could not Weather it ; lb we run in as
much under the Lee of the Point as we could,
and came to an Anchor in about twelve Fathom
Water.
But the Wind veering again in the Night, and
blowing exceeding hard, our Anchors came home,
and the Ship drove till the Rudder ftruck againft
the Ground ; and had the Ship gone Half her
Length further, Hie had been loft, and every one
of us with her. But our Sheet Anchor held its
own, and we heaved in fome of the Cable, to get
clear of the Ground we had ftruck upon. It was
by this only Cable that we rode it out all Night,
and towards Morning we thought the Wind aba-
ted a little, and it was well for us that it was fo^
for in Ipite of what our Sheet Anchor did for us ,
we found the Ship fa ft a-ground in the Morning,
to our very great Surprize and Amazement.
When the Tide was out, tho' the Water here
ebb'd away, the Ship lay almoft dry upon a
Bank of hard Sand, which never, I fuppole, had
any Ship upon it before ^ the People of the Coun-
try came down in great Numbers, to look at us,
and gaze, not knowing what we were, but gaping
at
( aya )
nt us as at a great Sight or Wonder^ at which
they were furprlzM, and knew not what to dc.
I have Reafon to believe, that upon the Sight
they immediately fent an Account of a Ship being
there, and of the Condition we were in ; for the
next Day there appeared a great Man, whether
it was their King or no, I knew not, but he had
Abundance of Men with him, and Ibme with long
Javelins in their Hands, as long as Half Pikes ;
and thefe came all down to the Water's Edge, and
drew up in very good Order juft in our View.
They Hood near an Hour without making any
Motion, and then there came near twenty of
them with a Man before them, carrying a white
Flag before them. They came forward into the
Water as high as their Waftes, the Sea not going
fo high as before, for the Wind was abated^ and
blew off Shore.
The Man made a long Oration to us, as we
could fee by hisGeflures, and we fometimes heard
his Voice, but knew not a Word he faid. Willi am ^
who was always ufeful to us, I believe, was here
again the Saving of all our Lives. The Cafe was
this. The Fellow, or what I might call him,
when his Speech was done, gave three great
Screams, for I know not what elfe to fay they
were, then lower'd his white Flag three times,
and then made three Motions to us with his Arm,
to come to him.
I acknowledge, that I was for Manning out the
Boat, and going to them ; but William would
by no means allow me : He told me, we ought
to trufl no Body •, that if they were the Barbari-
ans, and under their own Government, we might
be fure to be all murthered ; and if they were
Chriflians, we fhould not fare much better, if
they
( n5 )
they knew who we were ; that it was the Cuflom
of the Malabar s^ to betray all People that they
could get into their Hands •, and that thefe were
fbme of the fame People *, and that if we had
any Regard to our own Safety, we fhould not
go to them by any means. I oppofed him a great
while, and told him, I thought he uied to be
always right, but that now I thought he was not^
that i was no more for running needlefs Rifques,
than he, or any one elfe ^ but I thought all Na-
tions in the World, eveathe mofl fivage People,
when they held out a Flag of Peace, kept the
Offer of Peace made by that Signal, very facre 1-
ly, and I gave him feveral Examples of it in my
Hiftory of my ^/r/V^?? Travels, which I have here
gone thro' in the Beginning of this Work ; and
that I could not think thele People worle than
Ibme of them. And befides, I told him, our
Caie feem'd to be fuch, that we mull: fall into
fome body's Hands or other, and that we had
better fall into their Hands by a friendly Treaty,
than by a forced Submiffion ^ nay, tho' they had
indeed a treacherous Deflgn *, and therefore I was
for a Parley with them.
Well, Friend, fays William very gravely, if thou
wilt go, I cannot help it^ 1 fhall only defire to
take my laft Leave of thee at Parting, :br depend
upon it, thou wilt never fee us again : Whether
we in the ^hip may come off any better at laft, I
cannot refolve thee •, but this I will anfwer for, that
we will not give up our Lives idly, and in cool
Blood, as thou art going to do ♦, we will at leaft
preferve our felves as long as we can, and die at
iaft like Men, not like Fools trapannd by the
Wiles of a few Barbarians.
U William
( -74 ).
William fpoke this with fo much Warmth, and
yet with fo much AiTurance of our Fate, that I
began to think a little of the Rifque I was go-
ing to run. I had no more Mind to be murthe-
redthanhe, and yet I could not for my Life be
fo faint-hearted in the thing, as he. Upon which
I asked him, if he had any Knowledge of the
Place, or had ever been here ? He faid, No. Then
I asked him, if he had heard or read any thing
about the People of this llland, and of their Way
of treating any Chriftians that had fallen into
their Hands ? And he told me, he had heard of
one, and he would tell me the Story afterward.
j His Name, he faid, was Knox^ Commander of an
■ Eaft India Ship, who was driven on Shore, juft as
; we were, upon this Ifland of Ceylony tho' he could
' not fay it was at the fame Place, or whereabouts :
That he was beguiled by the Barbarians, and in-
ticed to come on Shore, juft as we were invited to
do at that time-, and that when they had him,
they furrounded him and eighteen or twenty of
his Men, and never fuffered them to return, but
kept them Prifoners, or murthered them, he
could not well tell which \ but they were carried
away up into the Country, feparated from one
another, and never heard of afterwards, except
the Captain's Son, who miraculoufly made his
Efcape after twenty Years Slavery.
I had no Time then to ask him to give the
full Story of this KmXj much lefs to hear him
tell it me ^ but as it is ufual in fuch Cafes, when
one begins to be a little touch'd, I turn'd fhort
with him, Why then. Friend William, faid I,
what would you have us do? You fee what
Condition we are in, and what is before us ^ fome-
thing muft be done, and that immediately. Why,
lays
< ^75 )
lays William^ I'll tell thee what thou ihalt do : Fli ft
caufe a white Flag to be hangM out, as they do
to us, and Man out the Long-Boat and Pinnace
with as many Men as they can well flow, to han-
dle their Arms, and let me go with them, and
thou {halt fee what we will do. If I mifcarry, thou
may'fl be flife^ and I will alfo tell thee, that if 1
do mifcarry, it ihall be my own Faul c, and thou
ihalt learn Wit by my Folly.
I knew not what to reply to him at firfl^ but
after fome Pau^e, I faid, William^ William j I am
as loath you fhould be lofl, as you are that I
fhould • and if there be any Danger, I defire you
may no more fall into it than I. Therefore, if
you will, let us all keep in the^Ship, fare alike^
and take our Fa^e together.
No, no, fays WiUiam^ there's no Danger in the
Method I propofe^ thou fhalt go with me, if
thou thinkeft fit. If thou pleafefl: but to follov/
the Meafures that I ihall refolve on, depend upon
it, tho' we will go off from the Ships, we will not a
Man of us go any nearer them than within Call
to talk with them. Thou feeft they have noi
Boats to comxe off to us ^ but, fays he, I rather
defire thou wouldft take my Advice, and manage
the Ship, as I fliall give the Signal from the Boat,
and let us concert that Matter together before we
go off.
Well, I found William had his Meafures in his
Head all laid before-hand, and was not at a Lofs
what to do at all ; fo I told him he fhould be Cap-
tain for this Voyage, and we would be all of us
under his Orders, which I would fee obferved to
a Tittle.
Upon this Conclufion of our Debates, he or^
dered four and Twenty Men into the Long-Boat;,
U % and
and twelve Men into the Pinnace, and the Sea
being now pretty linooth, they went off, being
all very well arm'd. Alfb he ordered, that all
the Guns of the great Ship, on the -Side which
lay next the Shore, fhould be loaded with Muf^
qiiet Balls, old Nails, Stubbs, and fuch like Pieces
of old Iron, L.ead, and any thing that came to
Hand ^ and that we ihould prepare to fire as foon
as ever he law us lower the white Flag, and hoift
up a red one in the Pinnace.
With thele Meafures fixM between us, they
went off towards the Shore, William in the Pin-
nace with twelve Men, and the Long-Boat coming
after him with four and twenty more, all llout,
reiblute Fellows, and very well arm'd. They
row'd fo near the Shore, as that they might Ipeak
to one another, carrying a white Flag as the other
did, and offerring a Varle, The Brutes, for fuch
they were, fnewed themfelves very courteous, but
finding we could not underftand them , they
fetch'd an old Dutchman^ who had been their
Prifor.er m.any Years, and let him to fpeak to us.
The Sum and Subffance of his Speech was. That
the King of the Country had lent his General
down to know who we were, and what our Bu-
fmefs was ? Willi am Hood up in the Stern of the
Pinnace, and told h^'m. That as to that, he that
was an European by his Language and Voice, might
eafily know what we were, and our Condition ^
the Ship being a-ground upon the Sand, would
alio tell him, that our Bufinefs there was that of
a Ship in Diftrefs ; fo Wilham defired to know
what they cam.e down for with fuch a Multitude,
and v/ith* Arms and Weapons, as if they came to
War with us.
He
( 277 )
He anfwered, they might have good Reafbn
• to come down to the Shore, the Country being
alarmed w^h the Appearance of Ships of Stran-
gers upon the Coafl •, and as our Veifels were full
of Men, and that we had Guns and Weapons, the
King had fent Part of his military Men, that, in
Cafe of any Invafion upon the Country, they
might he ready to defend themfelves, whatlbe-
ver might be the Occafion.
But, lays he, as you are Men in*Diftrefs, the
King has ordered his General who is here alfo, to
give you all the AfTiftance he can, and to invite
you on Shore, to receive you with all poiilble
Courtefy. Says William very quick upon him,
before 1 give thee an Anfwer to that, I dehre
thee to tell m.e what thou art ; for by thy Speech
thou art an European. He anfwered prefeiitly,
he was a Dutchman, That I know well, lays Wil^
Ham J by thy Speech^ but art thou a Native Dz^/^c/?-
man of Hcdlahdj or a Native of this Country, that
has learnt Dutch by converling among the Hollan-
ders^ who we know are fettled upon this IfLand.
No, fays the Old Man^ I am a Native of Delft
in the Province of Hollaiid in Europe,
Well, fays William immediately, but art thou
a Chriftian or a Heathen, or what we call a
Renegado ?
I am, fays he^ a Chriftan, and ^o they went on
in a fliort Dialogue, as follows.
WilL Thou art a Dutchman ^ and a Chriftian,
thou fayeft^ P^^y> '^^^ thou a Freem.an or a
Servant ?
Dutchm, I am a Servant.to the King here, and
in his Army.
WilL But art thou a Voluntier, or a Prilbiier ?
U 3 Dittchr^
( ^7S )
Dutchnt' Indeed I was a Prifoner at firft, but aifi
at Liberty now, and fo am a Voluntier.
H'^i'l. That is to fliy, being firft a Prifoner thou
haft Liberty to ferve them •, but art thou fo at
Liberty, that thou mayeft go away, if thou plea-
feft, to thine own Countrymen ?
Dutchm. No, I do not fay fo •, my Country-
men f ve a great Way off, on the North and Eaft
Parts of the Illand, and there is no going to them,
without the King's exprefs Licence.
IVill. Well, and why doft not thou get a Li-
cence to go away ?
Dutchm. I have never aslcM for it.
Will. And I fuppofe, if thou didft, thou knowft
thou couldft not obtain it.
Dutchm. I cannot fay much as to that, but why
do you ask me all thefe Queftions ?
Will. Why, my Reafon is good t^ if thou art a
Chriftian and a Prifoner, how canft thou confent
to be made an Inftrument to thele Barbarians, to
betray us into their Hands, who are thy Country-
men and Fellow-Chriftians ? Is it not a barbarous
thing in thee to do fo ?
Dutchm. How do I go about to betray you ? Do
I not give you an Account, how the King invites
you to come on Shore, and has ordered you to
be treated courteouily, and affifted ?
Will. As thou art' a Chriftian, tho' I doubt it
much, doft thou believe the King or the General,
as thou calleft it, means one Word of what he
fays?
Dutchm. He promifes you by the Mouth of his
Great General.
Will. I don't ask thee what he promifes, or by
whom ; but I ask thee this: Canft thou fay, that
thou believeft he intends to perform it ?
Dutchm^
( 279 )
Dutchm, How can I anfwer that ? How can I tel)
what he intends?
IVllL Thou canft tell what thou believeft.
Dutchm, I cannot fay but he will perform it ^ I
believe he may.
Will, Thou art but a double-tongu'd Chriftian;
I doubt : Come, I'll ask thee another Queftion :
Wilt thou fay, that thou believeft it ^ and that
thou wouldft advife me to believe it, and put our
Lives into their Hands upon thefe Promifes ?
Dutchm, I am not to be your Advifer.
Will, Thou art perhaps afraid to fpeak thy
Mind, becaufe thou art in their Power : Pray,
do any of them under ftand what thou and I fay?
Can they fpeak Dutch?
Dutchm. No, not one of them, I have no Ap-
prehenfions upon that Account at all.
Will, Why then anfwer me plainly, if thou art
a Chriftian : Is it fafe for us to venture upon their
Words, to put our felves into their Hands, and
come on Shore ?
Dutchm, You put it very home to me : Fray
let me ask you another Q_ueftion: Are you in
any Likelihood of getting your Ship off, if you
refiiie it ?
Will. Yes, yes, we fliall get off the Ship, now
the Storm is over, we don't fear it.
Dutchm, Then I cannot fay it is beft for you to
truft them.
Will. Well, it is honeftly faid.
Dutchm, But what ihall I fay to them ?
Will, Give them good Words, as they give us.^
Dutchm. What good Words?
Will, Why let them tell the King, that we are
Strangers, who were driven on his Coaft by a
great Storm •, that we thank him very kindly for
V 4 i^i^
( .8o )
his Offer of Civility to us, which, if we are far-
tlicr diilreis dj we will accept thankfully • but
that at prefent we have no Occafion to come on
Shore: An'abefides, that we cannot fafely leave
the bhip in the prefent Condition flie is in, but
that we are obliged to take Care of her, in order
to get hsr off, and exped in a Tide or two more,
to i^-:et her quite clear, and at an Anchor.
Dtitchm. But he will expeO: you to come on
Shore then to vifit him, and make him Ibme
Prefent for his Civility.
Will. When we have got our Ship clear, and
ilopp'd the Leaks, we will pay our Relpe^ls to
him.
Butchm. ISlay, you may as well come to him
now as then.
Will. ISay, hold Friend, I did not fay we would
come to him then : You talk'd of making him a
Prefent ^ that is, to pay our Refpeds to Kim, is
it not ?
Dunhm. Well, but I will tell him, that you
wHl come on Shore to him when your Ship is got
off?
Will. I have nothing to fay to that, you may
tell him what you think fit.
Dutchm. But he will be in a great Rage, if I
do not.
IVilL Who will he be in a great Rage at ?
Jjutchm. At you.
Will. What bccafion have we to value that?
Dutchm. Why, he will fend all his Army down
pgainfl: you.
Will. And what if they were all here juft now ?
yjh-dt doft thou fuppofe they could do to us ?
Lutchm. He would expeO: they fhould burn
Your Ships, and bring you all to him.
• ^ - WilL
( aSi )
IVIIL Tell him, if he try, he may catch a
Tartar.
Dutchm. He has a World of Men.
WllL Has he any Ships ?
Butchm. No, he has no Ships.
Will. Nor Boats?
Butchm. No, nor Boats.
WilL Why, what then do you think we care
for his Men ? What canft thou do now to us, if
thou hadft a Hundred Thoufand with thee ?
Dutchm. O ! they might fet you on Fire.
WilL Set ns a Firing thou mean'fb : That they
might indeed ; but Set ns on Fire^ they fliall not ^
they may try at their Peril, and we ihall make
mad Work with your Hundred Thoufand Men,
if they come within Reach of our Guns, I afTure
thee.
Butchm. But what if the King give you Hofta-
ges for your Safety ?
WilL Whom can he give but mere Slaves and
Servants like thy felf, whofe Lives he no more
values, than we an Englijh Hound?
Dutchm. Whom do you demand for Hoftages ?
Will. Himfelf and your WorilMp.
Dutchm. What would you do with him ?
Will. Do with him, as he would do with us,
cut his Head off.
Dutchm. And what would you do to me ?
Will. Do with thee ? We would carry thee
home into thine own Country •, and tho' thou
defer veft the Gallows, we would make a Man
and a Chriflian of thee again, and not do by
thee as thou wouldft have done by us, betray
thee to a Parcel of mercilefs, lavage Pagans, that
know no God, nor how to Ihew Mercy to Man.
Dmchm,
( a8a )
Dvtchm. You put a Thought in my Head that
I will (peak to you about to Morrow.
Thus they went away, and William came on
board, and gave us a full Account of his Parley
with the old Dutchman, which was very diver-
ting, and to me inftrufting, for I had Abundance
of Reafon to acknowledge William had made a
l)etter Judgment of things than I.
It was our good Fortune to get our Ship off
that very Night, and to bring her to an Anchor
at about a Mile and a Half further out, and in
deep Water, to our great Satisfaftion •, fo that
we had i:0 need to fear the Dutchman s King with
his Hundred Thoufand Men *, and mdeed we had
fbme Sport with them the next Day, when they
came down, a vaft prodigious Multitude of them,
very few lefs in Number, in our Imagination,
than a Hundred Thoufand, with fbme Elephants j
tho' if irhad been an Army of Elephant^s, they
could have done us no Harm, for we were fairly
at our Anchor now, and out of their Reach ^ and
indeed we thought our felves more out of their
Reach, than we really were-, and it was ten
Thoufand to One, that we had not been fall
a-ground again ^ for the Wind blowing off Shore,
tho' it made the Water fmooth where we lay,
yet it blew the Ebb further out than ufual, and
we could eafily perceive the Sand which we
touched upon before, lay in the Shape of a Half
Moon, and furrounded us with two Horns of it \
fo that we lay in the Middle or Center of it, as
in a round Bay, fafe jufl as we were, and in deep
Water ; but 'prefent Death, as it were, on the
right Hand, and on the left, for the two Horns,
or
r ^8^ )
or Points of the Sand, reachM out beyond where
our Ship lay near two Miles.
On that Part of the Sand which lay on our Eaft
Side, this mifguided Multitude extended them-
lelv^es ^ and being moft of them not above their
Knees, or moft of them not above Ancle deep
in the Water, they, as it were, furrounded us on
that Side, and on the Side of the main Land,
and a little Way on the other Side of the Sand,
ftanding in a Half Circle, or rather three Fifths
of a Circle, for about fix Miles in Lengthy the
other Horn, or Point of the Sand which lay on
our Weft Side being not quite fo ihallow, they
could not extend themfelves upon it fo far.
They little thought what Service they had
done us, and how unwillingly, and by the great-
eft Ignorance, they had made themfelves Pilots to
us, while we having not founded the Place, might
have been loft, before we were aware. It is true,
we might have founded our new Harbour, before
we had ventured out *, but I cannot lav for cer-
tain, whether we ihould or not ^ for I, for m/
Part, had not the leaft Sufpicion of what our real ,
Cafe was. However, I fay, perhaps belore we /
had weighM, we fhould have lookM about us a
little. I am fure we ought to have done it ^ for
befides thefe Armies of human Furies, we had a
very leaky Ship, and all our Pumps could hardly
keep the Water from growing upon us, and our
Carpenters were over-board working to find out,
and ftop the Wounds we had received, heeling
her fir ft on one Side, and then on the other ; and
it was very diverting to fee how, when our Men
heePd the Ship over to the Side next the wild
Army that ftood on the Eaft Horn of the Sand,
they were fo amazed between Fright and Joy,
that
( .84 ;
that it put them into a kind of Confufion, calling
to one another , hallooing and skreeking in a
Manner as it is impoiTible to defcribe.
While we were doing this, for we were in a
great Hurry, you may be fure, and all Hands at
Work, as well at the flopping our Leaks, as re-
pairing our Rigging and Sails, which had receiv'd
a great deal of Damage, and alfb in rigging a ^
new Main-Top-Maft, and the like : I fay, while \
we were doing all this, we perceived a Body of
Men, of near a Thoufand, move from that Part
of the Army of the Barbarians, that lay at the
Bottom of the fandy Bay, and came all along the
Water's Edge, round the Sand, till they flood juft
on our Broadfide Eafiy and were within about
Half a Mile of us. Then we fliw the Dutchman
come forward nearer to us, and all alone, with
his white Flag and all his Motions, juft as before,
and there he flood.
Our Men had but juft brought the Ship to
Rights again, as they came up to our Broadfide,
and we had very happily found out and flopp'd
the worfl and mofl dangerous Leak that we had,
to our- very great Satisfa£l:ion -^ fo I ordered the
Boats to be haul'd up, and Mann'd as they were
the Day before, and William to go as Plenipoten-
tiary. I would have gone my lelf, if I had under-
wood Butch ; but as I did not, it was to no Pur-
pofe, for 1 fhould be able to know nothing of
what was fliid, but from him at fecond Hand,
which might be done as well afterwards. All the
Inflru£l:ions I pretended to give William^ was, if
pofTible, to get the old Dutchman away, and, if
he could, to make him come on board.
Well, William went jufl as before •, and when
he cam.e within about fixty or feventy Yards of
the
(a8^ )
the Shore, he held up his white Flag, as the
Dutchman did, and turning the Boat's Broafide to
the Shore, and his Men lying upon their Oars,
the Parley or Dialogue began again thus.
Will. Well, Friend, what do'ft thou fay tou s
now ?
Dutchm, I come of the fame mild Errand as I
did yefterday.
WilL What do'ft thou pretend to come of a
mild Errand, with all theie People at thy Back,
and all the foolifh Weapons of War they bring
with them ? Prithee, what doft thou mean ?
Dutchm. The King haftens us to invite the Cap-
tain and all his Men, to come on Shore, and has
ordered all his Men to ihew them all the Civility
they can.
Will. Well, and are all thofe Men come to
invite us afhore ?
Butchm. They will do you no Hurt, if you
will come on Shore peaceably.
Will. Well, and what doft thou think they can
o to us, if we will not ?
Dutchm. I would not have them do you any
Hurt then neither.
Will. But prithee. Friend, do not make thy
felf Fool and Knave too : Do'ft not thou know
that we are out of Fear of all thy Army, and
out of Danger of all that they can do? ^A^hat
makes thee ad fb fimply as well as fo knaviihly ?
Dutchm. Why you may think your felves fafer
than you are : You do not know what they
may do to you. I can affure you they are able to
do you a great deal of Harm, jand perhaps burn
your Ship.
Will
( 286 )
Will. Suppofe that were true, as I am fure it is
fklfe, you fee we have more Ships to carry us
- Ar.BjuftatthisTIme ""^C r""'?^ to the Sloop.
we difcovered the Sloop Diitchm.^ We do not va-
{landing towards us from lue that, if you had ten
the Eaft, along the Shore, Ships, you dare not come
rwotetgut "^Mch wf «" Shore with all the Men
to our particular Satisfa- you have, in a hoftile
fl:ion,lhe having been mif- Way ; we are too many
Cng thirteen Days. for you.
WilL Thou doft not even in that fpeak as thou
meaneft ^ and we may give thee a Tryal of our
Hands, when our Friends come up to us-, for
t Juft then the Sloop ^Jiou heareft they have
£red five Guns, which was difcovered us f .
to get News of us, for Dutchm, Yes, I hear
they did not fee us. they fire, but I hope your
Ship will not fire again • for if they do, our Ge-
neral will take it for breaking the Truce, and will
make the Army let fly a Shower of Arrows at you
in the Boat.
Will Thou mayeft be fure the Ship will fire,
that the other Ship may hear them, but not with
Ball, If thy General knows no better, he may
begin when he will •, but thou mayefl be fure we
will return it to his CofV.
Dutchm. What muft I do then ?
WilL Do, why go to him, and tell him of it
before-hand then-, and let him know, that the
Ship firing is not at him, or his Men, and then
come again, and tell us what he fays.
Dutchm. No, I will fend to him, which will
do as well.
WllL Do as thou wilt •, but I believe thou hadft
better go thy felf ^ for if our Men fire firft, I
fuppofe'he will be in a great Wrath, and it
may
( ^8? )
maybe, at thee-, for, as for his Wrath at us, we
tell thee before-hand, we value it not.
Dutchm. You flight them too much, you know
not what they may do.
IVilL Thou makeft as if thofe poor favage
Wretches could do mighty things^ prithee let us
fee what you can all do, we value it not -^ thou
mayeft fet down thy Flag of Truce when thou
pleafeft, and begin.
Dutchm. I had rather make a Truce, and have
you all part Friends.
Will. Thou art a deceitful Rogue thy ielf • for
'tis plain thou knoweft thefe People would only
perfwade us on Shore, to entrap and furprize us -
and yet thou that art a Chriftian, as thou calieft
thy felf, would have us come on Shore, and put
our Lives into their Hands who know nothing
that belongs to CompafTion, good Ufage, or good
Manners : How canft thou be fuch a Villain !
JDutchm. How can you call me fo? What have
I done to you, and what would you have me do?
WilL Kot 2& like a Tray tor, but like one that
was once a Chriftian, and would have been {b ftill,
if you had not been a Dutchman,
Dutchm. I know not what to do not I, I wift I '
were from them, they are a bloody People.
WilL Prithee make no Difficulty of what thou
fliouldft do *, Canft thou fwim ?
Dutchm, Yes, I can fwim •, but if I ihould at*
tempt to fwim off to you, I fhould have a Thou-
fand Arrows and Javelins fticking in me, before I
ihould get to your Boat.
WilL I'll bring the Boat clofe to thee, and take
thee on board, in fpite of them all. We will
give them but one Volley, and I'll engage they
will all run away from thee.
Dutchm.
(.88)
Dutchm, You are niiftaken in them, ! afTure
you 'j they would immediately come all running
down to the Shore, ajid flioot Fire- Arrows at you,
and let your Boat and Ship and all on Fire, about
your Ears.
Will. We will venture that, if thou wilt come
off.
Dutchm. Will you ufe me honourably when
I am among you ?
IVilL ril give thee my Word for it, if thou
proveft honeft.
Dutchm. Will you not make me a Frifbner ?
WilL I will be thy Surety Body rbr Body, that
thou llialt be a Freeman, and go whither thou
wilt, tho' I own to thee thou doft not deferve it.
Juft at this time our Ship fired three Guns, to
anfwer the Sloop, and let her know we faw her,
who immediately, we perceived, underftood it^
and ftood direftly for the Place ^ but it is impoffi-
ble to exprefs the Confufion and filthy vile Noife,
the Hurry and univerfal Dilbrder, that was
?imong that vaft Multitude of People, upon our
Firing of three Guns. They immediately all re-
paired to their Arms, as I may call it ^ for, to
fay they put themfelves into Order, would be
faying nothing.
X^pon the Word of Command then they ad-
vanced all in a Body to the Sea-fide, andrefol--
ving to give us one Volley of their Fire Arms,
for fuch they were,* immediately they faluted
us with a Hundred Thoufand of their Fire-Ar-
rows, every one carrying a little Bag of Cloath
dipt in Brimftone, or fome fuch thing ^ which
flying thro' the Air, had nothing to hinder it ta-
kinti; Fire as it flew, and it generally did fo.
I can*
( 2^ }
I cannot fay but this Method of attacking us,
by a Way we had no Notion of, might give us at
firft fome little Surprise ^ for the Number was fo
great at firft, that we were not altogether with-
out Apprehenfions that they might unluckily fet
our Ship on Fire-^ fb that he relblved immediately
to row on Board, and perfwade us all to weigh,
and ftand out to Sea ^ but there was no time for
it, for they immediately let fly a Volley at the
Boat, and at the Ship from all Parts of the vaft
Crowd of People which flood near the Shore.
Nor did they fire, as 1 may call it, all at once,
and fo leave off^ but their Arrows being fbon
notch'd upon their Bows, they kept continually^
iliooting, ib that the Air was full of Flame.
I could not fay whether they fet their Cotton
Rag on Fire before they fhot the Arrow, for 1
did not perceive they had Fire with them, which
however it feems they had. The Arrow, befides
the Fire it carried with it, had a Head, or a Peg,
as we call it, of a Bone, and fbm.e of fharp Flint
Stone •, and fbme few of a Metal, too foft in itfelf
for Metal, but hard enough to caufe it to enter,
if it were a Plank, fb as to ftick where it fell.
WilUam and his Men had Notice fufficient to lye
clofe behind their Wafte-boards, which for this
very Purpofe they had !made fo high, that they
could eafily fnik themfelves behind them, fb as to
defend themfelves from any thing that came Point
blank, as we call ity or upon a Line •, but for what
might fall perpendicular out of the Air, they had
no Guard, but took the Hazard of that. At firft
they made as if they would row away, but be-
fore they went, they gave a Volley of their
fmall Arms, firing at thofe which flood with the
Dutchman j but William ordered them to be fure
X to
( 290 )
to take their Aim at others lb as to mils Jiim,
and they did lb.
There was no Calling to them now, for the
Koiiewas ib great among them, that they could
hear lio Body, but our Men boldly row'd in nearer
to them, for they were at firft driven a little olf,
and when they came nearer,, they fired a fecond
Volley, which put the Fellows into a great Con-
fufion, and we could fee from the Ship, that feve-
ral of them were killed or wounded.
We thought this wasia very unequal Fight,-
and therefore we made a Signal to our Men, to
row away, that we might have a little of the
Sport as well as they ; but the Arrows flew fo
thick upon them, being fo near t]\e Shore, that
they could not fit to their Oars , fo they fpread
a little of their Sail, thinking they might fail
along the Shore, and lye behind their Wafte-
boards: But the. Sail had not been fpread fix
Minutes, but it had five Hundred Fire-Arrows
ihot into it, , and thro' it, and at length fet it
fiirly on Fire/^ iior were our Men quite out of
the banger of its fetting the Boat on Fire, and
this made them paddle and flioye the Boat away
as well as they could, as they lay, to get further
off: :■• ^' - •
By this time they^ had left, lis a fair Mark at the
whole Savage Army ^ and as we had fheer'd the
Slxip as near to them as we could, we fired among
the thickeft of them fix or leven times, five Guns
r.t a time, whichfKotold Iron^Mufquet Bullets &c.
We could eafily lee that we made Havock of
them, and killed and wounded Abundance of
them, and that they were in a great Surprize at ,
It ^ but yet they never offered to fl:ir, and all this
while their Fire-Arrows flew as thick as before.
At
•At iaft, on a fudden their Arrows itopc^ and
the old Dutchman came running down to the Wa-
ter Side, all alone, with his white Flag as before,
waving it as high as he could, and making Sig-
nals to our Boat to come to him again.
IVilliam did not care at firfl: to go near him, but
the Man continuing to make Signals to him to
come, at laft William went, and the Dutchman told
him, that he had been with the General, who was
much mollified by the Slaughter of his Men, and
that ndw he could have any thing of him.
Any thing, lays William, what have we to do
with him-? Let him go about his Bufmefs, and
carry his Men out of Gun-Shot : Can't he ?
Why, lays the Dutchman^ but he dares not ftir,
nor fee the King's Face', unlefs Ibitieof your
Men come on Shore, he will certainly put him toi
Death.
Why then, lay3 William, he is a dead Man ^ for
if it were to fave his Life, and the Lives of all
the Crowd that is with him, he Ihall never have
one of us in his Power.
But Fil tell thee, faid William, how thou Ihalt
cheat him, and gain thy own Liberty too, if thou
hall any Mind to fee thy own Country again, and
art not turn'd Savage, and grown fond of living
all thy Days among Heathens and Savages.
I 'would be glad to do it with all my Heart,
fays he :, but if I fhould offef to fwim off to you
now, tho' they are fo far from me, they fhoot ib
true, that they would kill me before 1 got half
Way.
But, fays William, Fil tell thee how thou Ihalt
come with his Confent •, go to him, and tell him,
I have offer'd to carry you on board, to try if you
could perfwade the Captain to come on Shore^i
X ^ and
C 092 )
and that I would not hinder him, if he was wil-
ling to venture.
The Dutchman feem'd in a Rapture at the very
firft Word : Til do it, fays he, 1 am perfwaded
he will give me Leave to come.
Away he runs, as if he had a glad MelTage to
carry, and tells the General, that William had pro-
jnifed, if he would go on board the Ship with me,
he would perfwade the Captain to return with him.
The General was Fool enough to give him Order
to go, and charg'd him not to come back without
the Captain, which he readily promifed, and ve-
ry honeftly might.
So they took him in, and brought him on board,
and he was as good as his Word to them, for he
never went back to them any more; and the
Sloop being come to the Mouth of the hilet where
we lay, we weighed, and let Sail. But as we
went out, being pretty near the Shore, we fired
three Guns as it were among them, but without
any Shot, for it was of no Ufe to us, to hurt any-
more of them. After we had fired, we gave them
aChear, as the Seamen call it; that is to fayy we
halloo'd at them by way of Triumph, and fi> car-
ried off their AmbafTador ; how it fared with
their General, we know nothing of that.
This PaiTage, when I related it to a Friend of
mine, after my Return from tholeRambles, agreed
fo well with his Relation of what happened to one
Mr. Knox^ an En/lijl) Captain, who Ibme time at»o
^as decoyed oi Shore by thofe People, that "it
could not bur be very much to my Satisfaftion to
think Vi/hat Mifchiet we had all efcaped ; and I
think it cannot but be very profitable to record
the other Story, which is hut jlwrt^ with my own,
to fliew, whoever reads this, what it was I avoided,
and
( 29a )
and prevent their falling into the like, it they
have to do with the perfidious People of Ceylon*
The Relation is as follows.
The Ifland pf Ceylon being inhabited for the
greateft Part by Barbarians, which will not allow
any Trade or Commerce with any European Na*
tion, and inacceilible by any Travellers, it will
be convenient to relate the Occafion how the Au-
thor of this Story happen'd to go into this
Ifland, and what Opportunities he had of being
fiilly acquainted with the People, their Laws and
Cuftoms, that fo we may the better depend upon
the Account, and value it as it deferves, for the
Rarity as well as the Truth of it ; and both theie
the Author gives us a brief Relation of^ in this
Manner, His Words are as follow s»
In the Year 1(^57, the Ame Fregat, of London j
Captain Robert Knox Commander, on the 21ft of
January y let Sail out of the JDownes^ in the Service
of the Honourable the Eaft India Company of
England^ bound for Fort St, George upon the Coaft
of Coromandely to trade for one Year from Port
to Port in India ; which having performed, as he
was lading his Goods to return for England, be-
ing in thff4load of MatUpatamy on the i pth of
November 1559, there happen'd fuch a mighty
Storm, that in it leveral Ships ^A^ere caft away,
and he was forc'd to cut his IVl r Maft by the
Board, which fo difabled the Shi^^ that he could
not proceed in his Voyage ^ whc upon. Cottar^
in the Ifland of Ceylon being a very commodious
Bay fit for her prefent Diftrefs, Thomas Cham-
hers, Elq^ fince Sir Hoomas Chambers, the Agent at
Fort St, Giorge^ ordered that the Shipihould take
X 3 in
C ^94 )
in forne Cloath and Indian Merchants belongin g
to Fortit No'-ja^ who might trade there while ilie
lay to let her Maft, and repair the other Dama-^
ges fuftained by the Storm. At her firft coming
thither, after the Indian Merchants were fet on
Shore, the Captain and his Men were very jea-
lous of the People of the Place, by reafon the
Bnglijld never had any Commerce or Dealing with
them^ but after they had been there twenty Days,
going alhore and returning again at Pleafure,
without any Moleftation, they began to lay aiide
all futpicious Thoughts of the People that dwelt
thereabouts, who had kindly entertained them
for their Pvloney.
By this time the King of the Country had No-
tice of their Arrival, and not being acouainted
with their Intents, he lent down a Blffuavdj or
General, with an Army to them, who im.medi-
ately fent aMeffenger to the Captain on board,
to defire him to come ailiore to him, pretending
a Letter from the King. The Captain faluted
the MefTage with Firing of Guns, and ordered
his Son Robert Knox^ and Mr. 'John Level and^ Mer-
chant of the Ship, to go aihore and wait on him.
When they were come before him, he demanded
Who they were, and how long they jhould fiay f They
told him, "They were Englillirnen, and not to fiay
above twenty or thirty Days^ and de fired Permijficn to
tr<.ide in his Jldajeftys Port. His Anfwer was, Tljat
the Kinjr was glad to hear that the Engliili were corne
into Hs Country y and had ccmmanded him to ajfifi them^
rfi they flwuld (U fire J and had fcnt a Letter to he de-
livered to none hut the Captain himfelf. They were
then twelve Milss from the Sea-Side, and there-
fore replied, 7'hat the Captain covJd not leave his Ship
t9 come fo far ^ hut if he pleafcd to go down ta the
^ Sea-
{'295;
Sea-Side^ the Caftaiu would wait en him to receive, the
Letter. Whereupon the Dijfuava defired them
to ftay that Day, and on the Morrow he would go
with them ^ which, rather than difpleafe him in
fo fmall a Matter, they confented to. In the
Evening^ the Dipiava lent a Prefent to the Cap-
tain of Cattle and Fruits, &c. which being car-
ried all Night by the MelTengers, was delivered
to him in the Morning, who told him withal,
that his Men were coming down with the Dijfua-
va, and defired his Company on Shore againft his
coming, having a Letter from the King to deliver
into his own Hand. The Captain miftrufting
nothing, came on Shore with his Boat, and fit-
ting under a Tamarind Tree, waited for the
Diffuava* In the mean time, the Native Soldiers
privately furrounded him and the feven Men he
had with him, and feizing them, carrried th^^m
to meet the Dijfuava^ bearing the Captain on a
Hammock on their Shoulders.
The nextDay the Long-Boat's Crew, not know-
ing what had happened, came on Shore to cut
down a Tree to make Cheeks for the Main-Maflr,
and were made Prifoners after the fame Man-
ner, tho' with more Violence, becaufe they were
more rough with them, and made Refiftance, yet
they were not brought to the Captain and his
Company, but quartered in another H^ufe in the
fame Town.
The Dijfuava having thus gotten two Boats.,'
and eighteen Men, his next Care was to gain the
Ship, and, to that End, telling tlie Captain th'.<t
he and his Men were only detained becaufe the
King intended to fend Letters and a Prefent to
t\\Q Engli^y Nation by him, defired he w^uld
fend fome Men on board his Ship to order her
X 4 Stay %
(296 ;
Stay ; and becaufe the Ship was in Danger ol
being fired by the Dutch, if llie ftayM long in
the Bay, to bring her up the River. The Cap-
tain did not approve of the Advice, but did not
dare own hisDiflike^ and fo fent his Son with
the Order, but with a folemn Conjuration to
return again, which he accordingly did, bring-
ing a Letter from the Company in the Ship,
7^ at they would not obey the Capairij nor my other in
this Matter, but were refolved to ft and on their own
Defence. This Letter fatisfied the Dijfuava, who
thereupon gave the Captain Leave to write for
what he would have brought him from the
Ship, pretending , that he had not the King's
Order to releale them, though it would fud-
denly come.
The Captain feeing he was held in Sulpenfe,
and the Seafonofthe Year (pending for the Ship
to proceed on her Voyage to fome Place, fent
Order to Mr. John Burford the chief Mate, to
take Charge of the Ship, and fet Sail to Torta
Tslova, from whence they came, and there to
follow the Agent's Order.
And now began that long and fad Captivity
they all along feared ^ the Ship being gone, the
J)i(fuava was called up to the King, and they
were kept under Guards a while, till a fpecial
Order came from the King to part them, and
put one in a Town, for the Conveniency of
their Maintenance, which the King ordered to
he at the Charge of the Country. On September,
i6, 1660, the Captain and his Son were placed
in a Town called Bonder Coofwnt, in the Country
of Hotcurly, diflant. from the City of Candl
Nori:hward thirty Miles, and, from the refl of
xh^.Bnglift)y a full bay's Journey. H^re they had
their
f ^97 )
their Provifions brought them twice a Da^,
without Money, fo much as they could eat, and
as good as the Country yielded. The Situation of
the Place was very pleafant and commodious, but
that Year that Part of the Land was very iickly
by Agues and Fevers, of which many died.
The Captain and his Son, after fome time, were
viiited with the common Diftemper, and the
Captain being alfb loaded with Grief for his
deplorable Condition, languifh'd more than three
Months, and then diedy February the 9th 1660.
Robert Knox his Son being now left defolate,
iick, and in Captivity, having none to comfort
him but God, who is the Father of the father-
lefs, and hears the Groans of fuch as are in
Captivity, being alone to enter upon a long
Scene of Mifery and Calamity, opprefs'd with
Weaknefs of Body and Grief of Soul, for the
Lofs of his Father, and his remediiefs Trouble
that he was like to endure ; and the firft In-
ftanceofit was in the Burial of his Father-^ For
he fent his Black Boy to the People of the
Town, to delire their Alliftance, becaufe thejr
underftood not their Language-, but they lent
him only a Rope to drag him by the Neck into
the Woods, and told him, that they wouU offer
him no other Help ttnlefs he would fay for it. This
barbarous Anfwer increafed his Trouble, for
his Father's Death, that now he was like to lye
unburied, and be made a Prey to the wild Beafts
in the Woods ^ for the Ground was very hard,
and they had not Tools to dig with, and {o it was
impoihble for them to bury him ; but having
a fmall Matter of Money left' him, viz.. a Pagoda^
and a Gold Ring, he hired a Man, and fo buried
him
( ^98 )
him in as decent a M^.nner as their Condition
would permit.
His dead Father being thus removed out of
his Sight, but his Ague continuing, he. was re-
duced very low, partly by Sorrow, and partly
by his Dileale •, all the Comfort he had, was to
^o into the Wood, and Fields with a Book,
either the Pra^ice of Tlety^ or Mrg Rogers's Seven
'Treatifesy which were the only two Books he
}iad, and meditate and read, and fometlmes pray,
in which , his Anguiih made him often
invert Elijah^s Petition, That he might die, becaule
his Life was a burthen to him. God, tho' he
was pleafed to prolong his Life, yet he found
aWay to lighten his Grief, by removing hisAgue,
and granting him a Defire, which above all
things, was acceptable to him. He had read his
two Books over fo often, that he had both al-
moft by Heart, and tho' they were both pious
and good Writings, yet he long'd for the Truth
from the original Fountain, and thought it his
greateft Unhappinefs, that he had not a Bible,
and did believe, that he fhould never fee one
again : But, contrary to his Expectation, God
brought him one after this Manner. As he was
fifhing one Day, with his' Black Boy, to catch
fome Fifh to relieve his Hunger, an old Man
pafs'd by them, and asked his Boy, whether his
Mafter could read ^ and when the Boy had an-
fwered, Tes ^ he told him, that he had gotten a
Book from the Portuguefe Tpk;^ they left Columbo ;
andk if his Mafter fleafed^ he would fell it him. The
Boy told his Mafter, who bad him go and fee
what Book it was. The Boy having ferved the
JEnM fome time, knew the Book, and, as foon
as
■ ( ^99 )
as he had got it into his Hand, came running to
him, calling out before he came to him, 'T/j the
Bible, The Words ftartled him,' and he flung
down his Angle to meet him, and, finding it true,
was mightily rejoyc'd to fee it ^ but he was a-
fraid he fhould not have enough to purchale it,
tho' he was relblved to part with all the Money
he had, which was but one Pagoday to buy it;
but, his Black Boy perfwading him to flight it;
and leave it to him to buy it, he at length, ob-
tained it for a knit Cap.
This Accident he could not but look upon as
a great Miracle, that God fhould beflow upon
him fuch an extraordinary Blefling, and bring
him a Bible in his own native Language, in fuch
a remote Part of the World, where his Name
was not known, and where it was never heard
of, that an Engllflman had ever been before. The
Enjoyment of this Mercy was a great Comfort
to him in his Captivity, and tho' he wanted no
bodily Convenience that the Country did afford,
for the King immediately after his Father's
Death had fent an exprefs Order to the Peo-
ple of the Town, that they fhould be kind to
him, and give him good Victuals •, and, after
he had been fbme time in the Country, and un-
deri^ood the Language, he got him good Conve-
nienoies, as, a Horfe and Gardens, and falling
to Husbandry, God fo profpered him, that he
had Plenty, not only for himfelf, but to lend
others-, which being according to the Cuflom
of the Country, at 50 fer Cent, a Year, «iuch
enriched him. He had alio Goats, which ferved
him for Mutton, and Hogs and Hens: Notwith-
standing thia, I fay, for he lived as line as any
of their Noblemen, he could not fo far forget
his
( 3°o )
his native Country, as to be contented to dwell
in a flrange Land, where there was to him a
Famine of God's Word and Sacraments, the
Want of which made all other things to be of lit-
tle Value to him ^ therefore, as he made it his
daily and fervent Prayer to God, in his good
time, to reftore him to both, fo at length he,
with one Stephen Rutland, who had lived with him
two Years before, refolved to make their Efcape,
and, about the Year 1673, meditated all fecret
Ways to compafs it* They had before taken
up a Way of Peddling about the Country,
and buying Tobacco, Pepper, Garlick, Combs,
and all forts of Iron-Ware, and carried them into
thofe Parts of the Country where they want-
ed them ^ and now, to promote their Defign,
as they went with their Commodities from
Place to Place, they difoourfed with the
Country People, for they could now fpeak their
Language well, concerning the Ways ana Inhabi-
tants where the Ifle was thinneft and fulleft inha-
bited; where and how the Watches lay from
one Country to another ; and what Commodities
were' proper for them to carry into all Parts;
pretending, that they would furniih themfelves
with fuch Wares as the refpeftive Places wanted.
Kone doubted but what they did was upon the
Account of Trade, becaufe Mr. Knoxw^iS fo well
leated, and could not be fuppofed to leave fuch
an Eftate, was by travelling Northward, be-
caufe that Part of the Land was leaft inhabited;
and fb furnifliing themfelves with fuch Wares
as were vendible in thofe Parts, they fet forth,
and fleered their Courfe towards the North
Part of the Ifland, knowing very . little of the
Ways, which were generally intricate and per,-
plex'd.
( 301 )
plexed, becaufe they have no publick Roads,
but a Multitude of little Paths from one Town
to another, and thofe often changing-, and for
White Men to enquire about the Ways, was very-
dangerous, becaufe the People would prefently
fuipeft their Deiign.
At this Time they travelled from Catjda Vda^
as far as the Country of Neurecdava^ which is in
the furthermoft Parts of the King's Dominions,
and about three Days Journey from their
Dwelling. They were very thankful to Provi-
dence that they had paifed all Difficulties fb far;
but yet durft not go any further, becaufe they
had no Wares left to Traifick with*, and it being
the firft time they had been abfent fb long
from home, they feared the Townfmen would
come after them to feek for them, and fo they
returned home, and went eight or ten times into
thofe Parts with their Wares, till they became
well acquainted both with the People and th«
Paths.
In thefe Parts Mr. Knox ixiet his black Boy,'
whom he had turned away divers Years before!
He had now got a Wife and Children, and was
very poor •, but being acquainted with thefe Quar*
ters, he not only took Directions of him, but
agreed with him for a good Reward, to conduft
him and his Companion to the Butch. He glad-
ly undertook it, and a Time was appointed be-
tween them^ ; but Mr. Knox being difabled by a
grievous Pain which felzed him on his right Side
and held him five Days, that he could not travel*
this Appointment proved in vain ; for tho' he
yvent as foon as he was well, his Guide was gone
into another Country about his Bufmefs, and they
durft not at that time venture to run away with-
out
( ^07 )
out him. Thefe Attempts took up eight oV nine
Years, various Accidents hinclring their Defigns,
but moft commonly the dry Weather, becaulb
they fear'd, in the Woods, they Ihouli be ftarv'd
\vith Thirft, all the Country being in fuch a Con-
dition almoft four or five Years together for Lack
of Rain.
On September 22. 1679, they fet forth again,
furniflied with Knives and fmall Axes, for their
Defence, becaufe they could carry them private-
ly, and lend all Sorts of Wares to iell, as for-
merly, and all necelTary Provifions, the Moon
being twenty fevenDays old, that they might have
Light to run away by, to try what Succefs God
Almighty would now give them, in feeking their
Liberty. Their firft Stage was to Anarodghurroy
in the Way to which la^ a Wildernefs, called
Farraoth MocoU'rie^ full of wild Elephants, Ty-
gers, and Bears ; and becaufe 'tis the utmoft
Confines of the King's Dominions, there is al-
ways a Watch kept.
In the Middle of the Way, they heard tl-iat
the Cover nour's Officers of thefe Parts were out
to gather up the King's Revenues and Duties,
to fend theni up to the City ; which put them
into no fmall Fear, left finding them, they illould^
fend them back again: Whereup6n they with-^
drew to the Weftern Parts of Ecfduifoiy and fat
down to Knitting, till they heard they OiScers,
were gone. As foon as they were departed, thejr^;
went onwards of their Journey, having got. d^^
good Parcel of Cotton Yarn to' knit Caps with,'
and having kept their Wares, as they pretended,
to exchange for dried Fifh, which was fold only
in thofe lower Parts. Their Way lay necellari-;
\y thro' the Governour's Yard at ColUniHdy whdf
( 3C3 )
dwells there on Purpofe to examine all that go
and come. This greatly diftrefs'd them, becaufe
he would eafily fufpetf they were out of their
Bounds, being Captives-, however, they went re-
Iblutely to his Houfe, and meeting him, prelen-
ted him with a fmall Parcel of Tobacco and Be-
tel *, and iliewing him their Wares, told him, they
came to get dried Flefh to carry back with them.
The Governour did not lufped them, but told
them, he was lorry they came in fo dry a Time,
when no Deer could be catched, but if feme Rain
fell, he would loon fupply them. This Anfwer
plealed tliem, and they feeraed contented to ftay •
and accordingly abiding with him two or three
Days, and no Rain fiilling, they prefented the Go-
vernour with 6.VQ or fix Charges of Gunpowder,
which is a Rarity among them^ and leaving a Bun-
dle at his Houfe, they defired him to fhoot them
Ibme Deer, while they made a Step to jinarodg-
hurro. Here aifo they were put in a great Fright,
by the coming of certain Soldiers from the Kin^
to the Governour, to give him Orders to iet a
lecure Guard at the Watches, that no fulpicious
Per fens mighc pafs ; which, tho' it was only in-
tended to prevent the Flight of the Relations of
certain Kobles whom the King had clapt up ; yet
they feared they might wonder to fee white Men
here, and fo lend them back again : But God io
ordered it, that they were very kind to them, and
left them to their Bufmefs, and fo they got fafe
to j4narodghurro. Their Pretence was dried Fleih,
tho' they knew there was none to be had *, but
their real Bufinefs was to fearch the Way down to
the Dutch J which they Haid three Days to do : But
finding, that in the Way to Jafnafatariy which is
one. of the Dutch Ports, there was a Watch which
could
( 304)
could hardly be pafs'd, and other Inconveniencies
not lurnwuntable, they reiblved to go back, and
take the River Malwatogah^ which they had before
judged would be a probable Guide to lead them to
the Sea ; and that they might not be purfued, left
Ana,Yodghurro juft at JSIight, when the People never
travel for fear of wild Beafts. On Sunday ^ OEl. i z*
being ftored with all things needful for their Jour-
ney, viz,. Ten Days Provifion, a Bafui to boil their
Provifion in, two Calabafhes to fetch Water in,
and two great Tallipat Leaves for Tents, with
Jaggory, Sweet-meats, Tobacco, Betell, Tinder-
Boxes, and a Deer-Skin for Shoes, to keep their
Feet from Thorns, becaufe to them they chiefly
trufted. Being come to the River, they ftruck
into the Woods, and kept by the Side of it •, yet
not going on the Sand, left their Footfteps Ihould
be difcerned, unlefs forced, and then going
backwards.
Being gotten a good Way into the Wood, it be-
gan to rain-, wherefore they ereOred their Tents,
made a Fire, and refreih'd themfelves againft the
Riiing of the Moon, which was then eighteen
Days old^ and having tied Deer-Skins about their
Feet, and eafed themfelves of their Waies, they
proceeded in their Journey. When they had tra-
velled three or four Hpurs with Difficulty, be-
caufe the Moon gave but little Light among the
thick Trees, they found an Elephant in their Way
before them, and becaufe they could not fcare him
away, they were forced to ftay till Morning ; and
io they kindled a Fire, and took a Pipe of Tobac-
co. By the Light they could not difcern that ever
any Body had been there, nothing being to be (ttn
but Woods, and fo they were in great Hopes thac
they were paft all Danger, being beyond all hiha-
bitauts ^
( ^o'y )
fcltants^ but they were miftaken^ for tfie River
winding Northward, brought them into the midft
of a Parcel of Towns, called T/fea Wava^ where
being in Danger of being feen, they were under
a mighty Terror for had the People found them,
they would have beat them, and fent them up zo
the King) and to avoid it, they crept into an
hollow Tree, and fat there in Mud and Wet, till
it began to grow dark, and then betaking them-
lelves to their Legs, traveli'd till the Darknefs of
Kight ftopt them. They heard Voices behind
them, and feared 'twas fomebody in Purfuit of
them ^ but at length difcerning it was only an
Hallooing to keep the wild Beafts out of the
Corn, they pitched their Tents by the River,
and having boiled Rice, and roafted Meat for
their Suppers, and fatisfied their Hungers, they
committed themfelves to God's Keeping, and laid
them down to Sleep.
The next Morning, to prevent the worft, they
got up early, and haftenM on their journey % and
tho' they wei'e now got out of all Danger of the
tame ChianguUys^ they were in great Danger of the
wild ones, of whom thofe Woods were full ; and
though they faw their Tents, yet they were all
gone, fince the Rains had fallen, from the River
into the Woods y and ib God kept them from that
Danger, for had they met the wild Men, they
had been fhot.
Thus they travelled from Morning to Night
feveral Days, thro' Bufhes and Thorns, which
made their Arms and Shoulders, which were na-
ked, all of a Gore Blood. They often met with
Bears, Hogs, Deer, and wild BulHoes, but they
all run away as fbon as they faw them. The
River was exceeding full of Alligators. In the
Y Evening
( 3o6 )
Evening they ufed to pitcli their Tents, and make
great Fires both before and behind them, to af-
tright the wild Beafts, and tho' they heard the
Voices of all forts, they faw none.
On Thurfday at Noon they crofsM the River
Coroi^da Oya, which parts the Country of the Ma-
Lahars fl'om the King's, and on Friday about Nine
or Ten in the Morning, came among the Inhabi-
tants, of whom they were as much afraid as of
the Chiangul^ys before *, for tho' the Wannlounay^ or
Prince of this People, payeth Tribute to the
Butch out of Fear, yet he is better affeded to the
King of Candly and if he had took them, would
have fent them up to their old Mafter ^ but not
knowing any Way to efcape, they kept on their
Journey by the River Side by D^y, bedaule the
Woods were not to be traveled by Night, for
Thorns and wild Beafts, who came down then to
the River to drink. In all the Mddmrs Country
they met with only two Bramans, who treated
them civilly, and for their Money one of them
conduced them till they came into the Territories
of the Dutch ^ and out of all Danger from the King
olCmdi^ which did not a little rejoice them •, but
yet they were in no fmall Trouble how to find the
Way oat of the Woods, till a Malah^ for the Lu-
cre of a Knife, conducted them to ^ Dutch Tow n^
where they found Guides lo condu£l: them from
Town to Town, till they came to the Fort called
jirefa^ where they arrived Saturday ^ O^oher i8.
1(579, and there thankfully ador'd God's wonder-
ful Providence, in thus compleating their Deli-
verance from a long Captivity of Nineteen Years
{ind fix Months,
I come
C 5°? )
I come now back to my own Hiftory, which
draws near a Conclufion, as to the Travels
I took in this Part of the World. We were now
at Sea, and we ftood away to the Korth for a
while, to try if we could get a Market fot
our Spice, for we were very rich in Kutmegs,
but we ill knew vv^hat to do with them ; we durft
not go upon the Ei^glijli Coaft, or, to ipeak
more properly, among the EngUjlj Fadories to
Trade ^ not that we were afraid to fight any two
Ships they had ^ and befides that, v\^e knew,
that as they had no Letters of Mart or of Re-
prifals from the Government, fo it was none
of their Bufniefs to a£t oirenfively, no not tho'
we were Pyrates. Indeed if v^e had made any
Attempt upon them, they might have juftifyM
themfelves in joining together to reiift, and
aiUfting one another to defend themfelves ^ but
to go out of their Bufniefs to attack a Pyrate
Ship of almoft fifty Guns, as we were, it was
plain, that it was none of* their Bufniefs, and
confequently it was none of our Concern, fo we
did not trouble our felves about it •, but, on tlie
other Hand, it was none of our Bufniefs to be
fQQw among them, and to have the News of us
carried from one Fa£tory to ano::her : So that
whatever Deiign we might be upon at another
Time, we fhould be fure to be prevented and dif-
covered : Much lefs had we any Occafion to be
feen among the Dutch Fadories, upon the Cor.ft
of Malabar ) for, being fully loaden with the Sp-
ecs which we had in the Senfe of their Trad '
plundered them of, it would foon have told thei.
what we were, and all that v"^ had been doing
and they would, no doubt, have concerned them
felves ail manrer of Ways to have flilleii upon us.
Y z Tht
( 3o8 )
The only Way we had for it was to ftand away 'for
6*0^, and Trade, if we could, for our Spices with th?
Tortvgnefe Factory there. Accordingly we failed
rilnioil thither, tor we had made Land two Days
before, and, being in the Latitude of Goa, were
^landing in fair for Marmagoon^ on the Head ofSal^
fatj at the going up toGo^,when I called to the Man
at the Kelm to bring theShi'p to, a-nd bid the Pilot
go away N. N. W. till we came out of Sight of the
Shore ^ when William and I called a Council as we
uled to do upon Emergences, what Courfe we
ihould take to trade there, and not be difcovered ;
and we concluded, at length, that v/e would not
go thither at all ^ but that William^ with fuch
rrufty Fellows only as could be depended upon,
ihould go in the SJoop to Surat^ which vyas ftill
farther Korthward, and trade there as Mer-
chants, with fuch of the Englijli Faftory as they
could find to be for their Turn.
To carry this with the more Caution, and fo
as not to be fufpe8:ed, we agreed to take'ciit all
her Guns, and to put fuch Men into her, and
no other, as would promife us not to defire or
offer to go on Shore, or to enter into any Talk
or Converfation with any that might come on
board : And to finilli the Difguife to our Mind,
William documented two of our Men, one a Sur-
geon, as he himfelfwas, and the other a ready-
\vitted Fellow, an old Sailor, that had been a
Pilot upon the Coaft of New-England^ and was
an excePsnt Mimick^ thefe two William drelfed
up like two Quakers, and made them talk like
fuch. The old Pilot he made go Captain of the
Sloop, and the Surgeon for Doftor, as he wa?,
and himfelf Super-Cargo : In this Figure, and
the Sloop all plain, no curled Work upon lier,
indeed
( 9^9 ;
indeed {he had not much before, and no Guns
* to be feen, away he went for Surat.
I ihould indeed have obferved, that we went,
fome Days before we parted, to a fmall fandy
Ifland, clofe under the Shore, where there was
a good Cx)ve of deep Water, like a Road, and
out of Sight of any of the Factories, which are
here very thick upon the Coaft. Here we Shift-
ed the Loading of the Sloop, and put into her'
Hich Things only as we had a mind to dil^
pofe of there, which was indeed little but Nut-
megs and Cloves, but chiefly the former^ and
from thence William and his two Quakers, with
about eighteen Men in the Sloop, went away to
Suraty and came to an Anchor at a D'iftance from
the FaO:ory.
Williani uled fuch Caution, that he found-
Means to go on Shore himfelf, and the Doftor, as
he called him, in a Boat, which came on board
them to fell Fifli, rowed with only Indians of the
Country, which Boat he afterwards hired to
carry him on board again. It was not long
that they were t)n Shore, but that they found
Means to get Acquaintance with fome EngUJlj-
nieny who, though they lived there, and per-
haps, were the Company's Servants at firft,
yet appeared then to be Traders for themfelves,
in whatever Coaft- Bufinefs efpecially came in
their Way, and the Do£lor was made the firft
to pick Acquaintance ^ lb he recommended his
Friend, the Super-Cargo, till, by Degrees, the
Merchants were as fond of the Bargain as our
Men were of the Merchants, only tliat the Cargo
was a little too much for them.
However, this did not prove a Difficulty long
with them , for the next Day they brought two
Y 3 more
more
and.
( po)
Merchant?, IjigHjlj alfo, into their Bargain-,
J '^s Wlluam could perceive by their Dif-
couvio, thev refblved, if they bought them,
to carry them to the Gulph of Perfia, upon their
own Accounts -^ WlHiam took -the Hint, and, as
he told me afterwards, concluded we m'ght
carry them there as? well as they •, but this was
notWUUam^ preient Eufinefs :, he had here no lefs
than three and thirty Tonof Nuts, and eighteen
Ton of Cloves. There was a good Quantity of
Mace among the Kutmegs •, but we did not
fland to make much Allowance. In ihort, they
bar Grained, and the Merchants, who would
g'adlv have bought Sloop and all, gave William
bireS:ions, and two Men for Pilots, to go to a
Creek about fix Leagues from the Fadory,
where they brought Boats, and unloaded the
whole Cargo, and paid William very honeftly
for it. The whole Parcel amounting, in Money,
to about thirty five thoufand Pieces of Eight,
befides fome Goods of Value, which William was
content to take, and two large Diamonds worth
about three Hundred Pounds Sterling.
When they paid the Money, William invited
them on board the Sloop, where they came, and
the merry old Quaker diverted them exceeding-
ly with his Talk, and Thee'd 'em, and Thoud 'em,
till he made 'em fo drunk, that they could not go
on Shore for that Night.
They would fain have known who our People
were, and whence they came, but not a Man in
the Sloop would anfwer them to any Queftion
they ask'd, but in fuch a Manner as let them
think themfelves banter'd and jefted with. How-
ever in Difcourfe, William ^lid, they were able
Men for any Cargo we could haye brought them,
an4
( 5'i ;
and that they would have bought twice as much
Spice if we had had it. He ordered the merry
Captain to tell them, that they had another
Sloop that lay at A^armagoon^ and that had a great
Qiiantity of Spice on board alfo ^ and that if it
was not fold when he went back, for that thither
he was bound, he would bring her up.
Their new Chaps were lb eager, that they
would have bargain'd with the old Captain be-
fore-hand : Nay Friend, fald he^ I will not trade
with thee unfight and unfeen • neither do I know
whether the Mafter of the Sloop may not have
fold his Loading already to £bme Merchants of
Salfet • but if he has not, when I come to him, I
think to bring him up to thee.
The Doctor had his Employment all this
while, as well as WilUam and the old Captain ^ for
he went on fhore leveral Times a Day in the In-
dian Boat, and brought freih Provifions for the
Sloop, which the Men had need enough of 5 he
brought in particularly feventeen large Caslcs of
Arrack, as big as Buts, beiides fmaller Quantifies,
a Quantity of Rice, and Abundance of Fruits,
Mangoes, Pompions, and fuch Things, with
Fowls and Fifh. He never came on board but
he was deep laden ; for, inihort, he bought for
the Ship, as well as for themfelves ^ and particu-
!y, they half loaded the Ship with Rice and Ar-
rack, with fbme Hogs, and fix or feven Cows, a-
live *, and thus being well victualled, and having
Directions for coming again, they returned
to us.
William was always the lucky welcome MeiTen-
ger to us, but never more welcome to us than
now *, for where we had thruft in the Ship we could
get nothing, except a few Mangoes and Roots,
y .V being
( pi )
being not willing to make any Steps into the
Country, or make our felves known, till we had
Kews of our Sloop ^ and indeed our Mens Pa-
tience was almoft tired, for it was feventeen
Days that William fpent upon this Enterprise,
and well beftowM too.
When he came back, we had another Confe-
rence upon the Subject of Trade, namely, whe-
ther we ihould fend the reft of our Spices, and
other Goods we had in the Ship, to Surat ^ or,
whether we fhould go up to the G u\^h of Pc/fta
our felves, where it was probable we might fell
them as well as the EfigHJJj Merchants of Surat.
William was for going our felves, which, by the
Way, was from the good frugal Merchant-like
Temper of the Man, who was for the beft of
^very Thing : But here I over-ruled Williamy
which 1 very feldom took upon me to do •, but I
told him, that, confidering our Circumftances, it
was much better for us to fell all our Cargoe
here, though we made but half Price of them,
than to go with them to the Gulph of Perjia,
where we fhould run a greater Rifque, and where
People would be much more curious and inquifi-f
tive into Things than they were here, and where
it would not be fb eafy to manage them, feeing
they traded freely and openly there, not by
Stealth, as thofe Men leemed to do •, and befides,
if they fafpe£led any Thing, it would be much
more diiEcuit for us to retreat, except by meer
Force, than here, where we were upon the
high Sea, as it were, and could be gone when-
ever we pleafed, without any Difguife, or indeed
without the leaft Appearance of being purfued,,
none knowing where to look for us.
My
( 313)
My Apprehenfions prevailed with William^
whether my Reafons did or no, and he fubmit-
ted \ and we refolved to try another Ship's Load-
ing to the fame Merchants •, the main Bufniefs
was to confider how to get off of that Circum-
ftance had expofed them with the Englljlj Mer-
chants '^ namely, that it was our other Sloop ^
but this the old Quaker Pilot undertook • for
being, aslfaid, an excellent Mimick himfelf, it
was the eaiier for him to drefs up the Sloop in
new Clothes ^ and firft he put on all the carved
Work he had taken off before ^ her Stern, which
was painted of a dumb white, or dun Colour, be-
fore all fiat, was now all lacquer'd, and blue,
and I know not how many gay Figures in it ^ as
to her Quarter, the Carpenters made her a neat
little Gallery on either Side *, ihe had 12 Guns
put into her, and fome Patereroes upon her Gun-
nel, none of which were there before *, and to
finift her new Habit or Appearance, and make
her Change compleat, he ordered her Sails to be
alter'd ; and as ilie failed before with a Half-
Sprit, like a Yacht, fhe failed now with fquare
Sail and Mizen Maft, like a Ketch ; fo that, in a
Word, fhe was a perfect Cheat, difguifed in e-
very Thing that a Stranger could be fuppofed to
take any Notice of, that had never had but one
View ;, for they had been but once on board.
In this mean Figure the Sloop returned ^ fhe
had a new Man put into her for Captain, one we
Jcnew how to truft ^ and the old Pilot appearing
only as a Faffenger, the Do^or and William
afting as the Super-Cargoes, by a formal Procu-
ration from one Captain Singletoriy and all Things
ordered in Form,
We
( ^»4 )
We had a compieat Loading for the Sloop ;
for befldes a very great Quantity of Nutmegs
and Cloves, Mace, and fome Cinnamon, {he had
on board Ibme Goods, which we took in as we
lay about the Phillppr/je Iflands, while we waited
as looking for Purchale.
WUUam made no Difficulty of felling this Car-
goe alfb, and m about twenty Days returned
again, freighted with all neceffary Provifions for
our Voyage, and for a long Time *, and, as I fiiy,
we had a great deal of other Goods, he brought
us back about three and thirty thoufand Pieces
of Eight, and fome Diamonds ^ which, tho' WU-
Ham did not pretend to much Skill in, yet he
made fhift to aO:, fo as not to be impofed upon,
the Merchants he had to deal with too being
very fair Mtn.
They had no Difficulty at all with thefe Mer-
chants ; for the Profpect they had of Gain made
them not at all inquifitive ; nor did they make
the leafl Difcovery of the Sloop ^ and as to the
Selling them Spices which were fetch'd fb far
from thence, it feems it was not fb much a No-
velty there as we believed • for the Tomiguez.e
had frequently Veffels which came from Macao
in Chlnay who brought Spices, which they bought
of the Chinefe Traders, who again frequently
dealt among the Dutch Spice Iflands^ and re-
ceived Spices in Exchange for fuch Goods as they
carried from Chwa.
This might be called indeed the only trading
Voyage we had made % and now v/e were really
very rich ; and it came now naturally before us
to confider whither we ihould go next •, our pro-,
per Delivery Port, as we ought to have called it,
was at Mddagafcar^ in the Bay oi Mangahelly : But
William
( 3'5 )
IVliam took me by my felf into the Cabbin of
the Sloop one Day, anei told me, he wanted to
talk ferioufly with me a little ^ fb we ihut our
lelves in, and William began with me.
Wilt thou give me Leave, fays William^ to talk
plainly with thee upon thy prefent Gircumftan-
ces, and the future Profpefl: of living, and wilt
thou promile on thy Word to take nothing
ill of me.
With all my Heart, [aid /, WilUamy I have al-
ways found your Advice good, and your Defigns
have not only been well laid, but your Counlel
has been very lucky to us *, and therefore fay
what you will, I promife you 1 will not take
it ill. '
But that IS not all my Demand, fays William^ if
thou doft not like what I am going to propole to
thee, thou fhalt promife me not to make it pub-
lick among the Men.
1 will not, William^ fays /, upon my Word, and
fwore to him too very heartily.
Why then, fays William^ I have but one Thing
more to article with thee about, and that is,
that thou wilt confent, that if thou doft not ap-
prove of it for thy felf, thou wilt yet confent
that I fhall put fb much of it in Pra8:ice as re-
lates to my felf, and my new Comrade DoBorj
fo that it be in nothing to thy Detriment and
Lofs.
In any Thing, fays /, IVdliam^ but leaving
me, I will -^ but I cannot part with you upon any
Terms whatever.
Well, fays William^ I am not defigning to part
from thee, unlefs it is thy own Doing ; but affure
me in all thefe Points j and I will tell my Mind
freely.
So
So I promifed him every Thing he defired of
ine in the folemneft Manner pofTible, and Co feri-
oufly and frankly withal, that William made no
Scruple to open his Mind to me.
Why then, m the ^rikVl^cQ^ fays Willi am ^ ihall
I ask thee if thou doft not think thou and all thy
Men are rich enough, and have really gotten as
much Wealth together (by whatfoever Way it
has been gotten, that is not the Queftion) as ye
all know what to do with ?
Why truly Willi am^ [aid f, thou art pretty
right, J think we have had pretty good
Luck.
Well then, fays William^ I would ask, whether,
if thou haft gotten enough, th<3u hafi: any
Thought of leaving olT this Trade ^ for moft Peo-
ple leave off Trading when they are fatisEed
with getting, and are rich enough •, for no body
trades for the fake of Trading, much lefs do any
Men rob for the fake of Thieving.
Well, William^ fays /, now I perceive what it is
thou art driving at •, I warrant you, fays /, you
begin to hanker after Home.
Why truly, fays William^ thou haft faid it,
and fo I hope thou doft too ^ it is natural for moft
Men that are abroad to deftre to come Heme
again at laft, efpecially when they are grown rich,
and when they are (as thou owneft thy felf to be)
rich enough, and fo rich, as they know not what
to do with more if they had it.
Well, Willl^.my faid /, but now you think
you have laid your Preliminary at Hrft io
home, that I ihould have nothing to fay ^ that
is, that when I had got Money enough, it v/ould
be natural to think of going Home ^ but you
have not explained v/hat you mean by Home^
and
( 517 )
and there you and I fliall differ. Why, Man, I
am at Home, here is my Habitation, I never had
any other in my Life time *, I was a kind of Cha-
rity School-Boy, fo that I can have no Defire of
going any where for being rich or poor, for I
have no where to go.
Why,/^'j Willi(tmy looking a little confufed, art
not thou an Englishman f Yes^ fays /, 1 think fo, you
lee I fpeak EngUfl] •, but I came out of England a
Child, and never was in it but once fince 1 was a
Man, and then I was cheated and impofed upon,
and uled fo ill, that I care not if I never fee it
more.
Why haft -thou no Relations or Friends there,
fays hfy no Acquaintance, none that thou haft
any Kindnefs for, or any remains of Refpeft
for?
Not I, William^ faid /, not one, no more than
I have in the Court of the Great Mogul.
Nor any Kindnefs for the Country, where
thou waft born, fays William,
Not I, anymore than for the Ifland of ^W^-
gafcar, nor fo much neither, for that has been a
fortunate Ifland to me more than once, as thou
knoweft, WilUamy faid L
William was quite ftunn'dat my Difcourfe, and
held his Peace •, and / faid to him^ go on, William^
what haft thou to fay farther ? For I hear you
have fome Projed in your Head, /^j fe^, come,
let's have it out.
Nay, fays William^ thou haft put me to Silence,
and all I had to, fay is over-thrown ^ all my Pro-
je^s are come to nothing, and gone.
Well, but William^ faid /, let me hear what
they were, for tho' it is fo that what I have to
aim at does not look your Way •, and tho' I have
no
no Relation, no Friend, no Acquaintance in T:;;^-
ia^dy yet I do not lay I like this roving, cruifing
Lite, fo well as never to give it over : Let me
hear if thou canft propoie to me any thing be-
yond it.
Certainly Friend, fays William^ very gravely,
there is fomething beyond it, and lifting up his
Hands, he feeraed very much affefted, and I
thought 1 fee Tears ftand in his Eyes, but I, that
was too hardned a Wretch to be moved with thefe
Things, laughed at him *, what, fays /, you
mean JDeath^ I warrant you, don't you, that is
beyond this Trade *, why, when it comes, it
comes, then we are all provided for.
Ay, fays William^ that is true *, but it wou'd be
better that fome Things were thought on before
that came.
Thought on, fays /, what fignifies thinking of
it ; to think of Death, is to dye *, and to be al-
ways thinking of it, is to be all one's Life-long a
, dying *, 'tis Time enough to think of it when it
comes.
You will ealiiy believe I was well qualiRed for
a Pirate that could talk thus *, but let me leave it
upon Record for the Remark of other hardned
Rogues like my lelf. My Confcience gave me a
Pang that 1 had never felt before, when 1 faid,
^oat ftgnifles thinking ef it, and told me, I ihou'd
I pne Day think of thefe Words with a fad Heart,
ibut the Time of my Refie£i:ion was not yet
jjcomie •, lb I went on.
^-' Says William^ very ferioufly, I muft tell thee.
Friend, I am forry to hear thee talk fo •, they that
never think of dying, often dye without think-
ing; of It.
I cap
1 carried on the jefting Way a while farther,
and fald^ prithee do not talk of dying-, how do
we know we ihall ever dye, and began to laugh ?
I need not anfwer thee to that, fa^s William^ it
is not my Place to reprove thee who art Comman-
der over me here, but I had rather thou wouldft
talk otherwife of Death ^ 'tis a coarle Thing.
Say any Thing to me, William, faid /, I will take
it kindly : / he^afi now to he very much moved at his
Difcourfe,
Says William, Tears running down his Face, it
is becaufe Men live as if they were never to dye,
that fb many dye before they know how to live ;
but it was not Death that I meant, when I fajd,
Tloat there was fomething to he thought of heyond tBs
Way of Living.
Why, William, faid I, what was that ?
It was Repentance, fays he.
Why, fays J, did you ever know a Pirate re-
pent ?
At this he ftarted a little, and return'd, at the
Gallows, I have one before, and I hope thou wilt
be the lecond.
He fpoke this very affe£tionately, and with an /
Appearance of Concern for me. /
Well, William, fays I, I thank you, and I am
not fb lenfelefs of thele Things, perhaps, as I
make my felf feem to be ^ but come, let me hear
your Propofal.
My Propofal, fays William, is for thy Good, as
well as my own ^ we may put an End to this kind
of Life, and repent*, and I think the fairefl Oc-
calion offers for both at this very Time that
ever did, or ever will, or indeed, can happen
again.
Look
( 3^o)
Look youy William^ fays /, Jet me have your
Propodil for putting an End to our :)refent Way
of Living fir ft, for that is the Caie before us,
and you and I will talk ot the other afterward.
I am not fo infenfible, [aid /, as you may think
me to be ^ but let us get out of this hellifh Con-
dition we are in firft.
Nay, fays William^ thou art in the right there ^
we rriuft never talk of repenting while we con^
tinue Pirates.
Well, fays /, William^ that's what I meant, for
if we muft not reform, as well as be forry for
what's done, 1 have no Notion what Repentance
means -^ indeed, at beftl know little of the Mat-
ter ^ but the Nature of the thing feems to tell
me, that the firft Step we have to take, is to
break off this wretched Courfe, and I'M begin
there with you with all my Heart.
I coukU fee by his Countenance, that William
was throughly pleafed with the Offer ^ and if he
had Tears in his Eyes before, he had more now,
but it was from a quite differing PafTion, for he
was fo fwallow'd up with Joy, he could not
fpeak.
Come, Williamyfays /, thou fheweft me plain
enough thou haft an honeft Meaning. Doft thou
think 'tis pradicable for us to put an End to our
unhappy Way of Living here, and get off?
Yes, fays he, I think 'tis very prafticable for
me, whether 'tis for thee or no, that will depend
upon thy felf
Well, fays /, I give you my Word, that as I
have commanded you all along, from the Time I
firft took you on Board, fo you ftiall command me
from this' Hour j and every thing you direct rae,
''''^' Wilt
( 3^1 )
Wilt thou leave it all to me ? Doft thou fliy
this freely ?
' Yes, IVilluv,.;, fays 7, freely, and Fll perform it
faithfully.
Why then, fays William^ my Scheme is this,
we are now at the Mouth of the Gulph of Perfa^
we have fold ib much ot our Cargo here at Surat^
that we have Money enough •, fend me away for
Baffora with the Sloop, loaden with the China
Goods we have on Board, which will make ano-
ther good Cargo •, and I'll warrant thee I'll find
Means among the Englljlj and the Dutch Merchants
there, to lodge a Quantity of Goods and Money
a Kb ^u a Merchant^ fo as we will be able to have
Recourfe to it again upon any Occafion, and
wjien I come Home we will contrive the reft ;
and in the mean Time do you bring the Ship's
Crew to take a Refolution to go to Madagafcar^
as fbori as I return.
I told him, I thought he need not go fb far as
Bajforay but might run into Gombaroor?^ or to Or-
tnuSy and pretend the fame Bufinefs.
No, fays he^ I cannot aft with the fame Free-
dom there, becaufe the Company's Faftory are
there, and I may be laid hold of there on Pre-
tence of Interloping.
Well, but, faid /, you may go tp Ormus then,
for I am loath to part with you lb long as to go to
the Bottom of the Terfan Gulph. He return'd
that I ihould leave it to him to do as he ihould
fee Caufe.
We had taken a larcfe Sum of Money at Surat ;
lb that we had near a hundred thouland Pounds
in Money at our Command ^ but on board the
great Ship we had ftill a sreat deal moi-e.
Z I or.
( 3^2 )
I ordered him publickly to keep the Money on
board which he had, and to buy up with it a
Quantity of Ammunition if he could get it, and
lb to furriifh us for new Exploits ^ and in the
mean Time I refblved to get a Quantity of Gold
and Ibme Jewels, which I had on board the
great Ship, and place them fo, that I might car-
ry them olf without Notice, as fbon as he came
back *, and fb according to Williams Directions, I
left him to go the Voyage, and 1 went on board
the great Ship, in which we had indeed an im-
menle Treafure.
We waited no lefs than two Months, for Willl^
am% Return*, and indeed I began to be very
uneafy about William^ fbmetimes thinking he had
abandoned me, and that he might h^.ve uied the
liime Artifice to have engaged the other Men to
comrly with him, and fo they were gone away
together ^ and it was but three Days before his
Return, that I was juil upon the Point of refbl-
ving to go away to Madagafcar^ and give him
over *, but the old Surgeon, who mimicked the
Quaker, and palfed for the Mafter of the Sloop
at57/r/2r, perfwaded me againfl that ; for which
good Advice, and his apparent Fpithfulnefs in
what he had been trufted with, I made him a
Party to my Defign, and he proved very
honeft.
At length William came back, to our inexpref^
fible Joy, and brought a great many necelfary
Things* with him ^ as particularly, he brought
fixty Barrels of Powder, fbme Iron Shot, and a-
bout thirty Ton of Lead-, alio he brought a
I great deal of Provifions •, and in a Word, William
' gave me a publick Account of his Voyage, in the
Hearing of whoever happened to be upon the
Quarter-
Quarter-Deck, that no Sufpicions might be
found about us.
After all was done, William moved, that he
might go up again, and that I would go with
liim • named feveral Things which we had on
board that he could not fell there, and particu-
larly told us, he had been obliged to leave feve-
ral Things there, the Caravans being noc come
in ^ and that he-had iri'gaged to come back again
with Goods.
This was what I wanted •, the Men were eager
for his Going, and particularly becaufe he told
them they might load the Sloop back with
Rice and Provifions: But I feemed backward to
going ^ when the old Surgeon ftood up, and per-
fwaded me to gx), and with many Arguments
preiTed me to it ; as particularly, if I did not go,
there would be no Order, and leveral of the
Men might drop away, and perhaps betray all
the reft ^ and that they iliould not think it fafe
for the Sloop to go again, ifl did not go-, and
*to urge me to it, he offered h>mfelf to go
with me.
Upon thefe Confiderations I feemed to be over-
^erfwaded to go ;, and all the Company feemed
the better fatisfied when I had confented : And
accordingly we took all the Powder, Lead, and
Iron out of the Sloop into the great Ship, and
all the other Things that were for the Ship's
Ufe, and put in fome Bales of Spices, and Casks
■or Frailes of Cloves, in all about ^q-^qxi Ton,' and
^me other Goods, among the Bales of which I
had conveyed all my private Treafure, which, I
affure youj was of no fmall Value ^ and away
Irweat-
2 2 At
( 5H )
At going oIT, I called a Council of all the Offi-
cers m the Ship, to confider in what Place they
fhould wait for me, and how long, where we ap-
pointed tlie Ship to ftay eii2;ht and twenty Days, ,
at a little iiland on the ArahUn Side of the Gulph j
and that if the Sloop did not come in that Time,
they fnould fail to another Iiland to the VVefi: of
that Place, and wait there fifteen Days more \
and that then if the Sloop did not com.e, they
fhould conclude fome Accident muft have hap-
pened, and, the Rendezvous ihould be at Ma-
dagafcar.
Being thus refolved, we left the Ship, which
both WlHimnj and I, and the Surgeon never in-
tended to lee any more : We fteered d-'re^lly
for the Gulph, and through to Baffaro^. or Balfara,
This City q[ Balfara lies at fbme Diftajice from
the Place where our Sloop lay, and the River
not being very fafe, and we but ill acquainted
with it, having but an ordinary Pilot, we went
on Shore at a Village where fome Merchants live,
and which is very populou"^, for the fake of fmall
Veifels riding there.
Here we fray'd, and traded three or four
Days, landing all our Bales and Spices, and in-
deed the whole Cargoe, that was of any confide-
rable Value -^ which we chofe to do rather than
go up immediately to Balfaray till the Project
we had laid was put in Execution.
After we had bought fever al Goods, and were
preparing to buy feveral others, the Boat being
on Shore with twelve Men, my feU, IVilliam^ the
Surgeon, and one Fourth Mnn, whom, we had
fmgled out, we contrived to fend a Turli^ jufl at
the Dusk of the Evening, with a Letter to the
Boatfwain ^ and giving the Fellow a Charge to
run
( 5^5 }
run with all poiTible Speed, we flood at a fmall
Diftance to obierve tliQ Event. The Contents
of the Letter were thus written by the old
Doftor.
^ Boatfwain Thomas^
C WJ ^ ^re all betrayM; for God's Sake
\ V ^ make off with the Boat, and get on
* board, or you are all loll:. The Captain, Wil-
* Ham the Quaker, and George the Rcxormade are
* feized and carried away • I am efcaped and hid,
' but cannot ftir out ^ If I do 1 am a dead Man :
^ As foon as you are on board, cut or liip, and
' make Sail for your Lives.
* Adieu.
R. S.
We flood undifcovered, as above, it being
the Dusk of the Evening, and faw the Turk deli-
ver the Letters ^ and in three Minutes v^tj law
all the Men hurry into the Boat, and put off ;
and no Iboner were they on board, but they
took the Hint, as we fuppofed •, for the next
Morning they were out or Sight ^ and we
never heard Tale or Tidings of them. fmce.
We were now in a good Place, and in very
good Circumflances, for we paft for Mer-
chants of Per/la.
It is not material to record here what a
Mafs of ill-gotten Wealth we had got together :
It will be more lo the Purpole to tell you, that I
began to be fennble of the Crime of getting of it
in fuch a Manner as I had done, that I had very
little Satisfaction in the Folleilion of it ^ and, as
1 told Willi^my I had no Expe^ation of keeping it,
Z B xiar
( 5^6 )
nor ihuch Dellre •, but as I faid to him one Dajr
walking out into the Fields near the Town at'
Baffarofy fo I depended upon it, that it would be'
the Gale, which you will hear prefently.
We were perfedly fecured at Bajfaro^ by ha-
ving frighted away the Rogues, our Comrades ^
and we had nothing to do but to confide r how to
vert our Treafure in Things proper to make us
look like Merchants, as we were now to be,
and net like Free-bootrers, as we really had
been.
We happened very opportunely here upoh
a Dutchnany who had travelled from Bengal to
jigrdy the Capital City of the Great Moguls and
from thence was come to the Coaft of Malabar by
Land, and got Shipping fbme how or other up
the Gulph ; and we found his Defign was to go
up the great River to Bagdat or Babylon ; and ib
by the Caravan to Aleppo and Scanderoon. As Willi*
4m (poke Dutch y and was of an agreeable infmujf-
ting Behavtouf , he ibon got acquainted with this
Dutchtnafiy and difcovering our Circumftances to
one another, we found he had conflderable Effe£ts.
with him ; and that he had traded long in that
Country, and was making homeward to his own
Country *, and that he had Servants with him,
one an Armenian, whom he had taught to fpeak
Dutchy and who had Ibmething of his own, but
had a Mind to travel into Europe ^ and the other
a Dutch Sailor, whom he had picked up by his Fan-
cy, and repofed a great Truft in him^ and a very
honeft Fellow he was.
This Dutchman was very glad of an Acquain-
tance, becaufe he loon found that we direft*
ed our Thoughts to Europe atfb, and ai$ he
found we were encumbered with Goods only,
for
( r'7 )
for we let him know nothing of our Money, he
readily offered us his Ailiftance, to difpofe of ns
many of them as the Place we were in would put
off, and his Advice what to do with the reft.
While this was doing, William and 1 confulted
what to do with our felves, and what wo had ^
and firft we refolded we would never talk leriouily
of any of our Meafures, butin the open Fields,
where we were fure no Body could hear ^ fo every
Evening, when the Sun began to decline, and the
Air to be moderate, we walk'd out fometimes
this Way, fometimes that, to confuit of our Af-
fairs.
I ihould have obferved, that we had new
cloathed our felves here after the Terfan Manner,
in long Vefts of Silk, a Gown or Robe o^ Englljlj
Crimfon Cloth, very fine and handibme, and had
let our Beards grow fo after the Terfian Manner,
that we paft for Verfim Merchants, in View only,
tho', hy the Way^ we could not underftand or fpeak
one Word of the Language of Pcrfia, or indeed
of any other but Englijh and Dutchy and of the
latter I underftood very little.
However, the Dutchman fupply'd all this for
us, and as we had refolved to keep our lelves as
retired as we could, though there were feveral
Englijh Merchants upon the Place, yet we never
acquainted our felves with one of them, or ex-
changed a Word with them, by which Means we
prevented their Enquiry of us now, or their
giving any Intelligence of us, if any News of
our Landing here ihould happen to come, which it
was eafy for us to know, was poflible enough, if
any of our Comrades fell into bad Hands, or by
many Accidents which we could not fore fee.
24 It
( ?28 )
It was durinc^ my being here, for -here we
ftay 'd near two Months, that I grew very thought-
fal about my Cuxumflances, not as to the Dan-
ger, neither indeed were we in any, but were
entirely conceal'd and unfufpefted •,' but 1 really
began to have other Thoughts of my felf, and of
the World, than ever I had before.
William hadftruck fo deep into my unthinking
Temper, with hinting to me, that there was
fumething beyond all this, that the prefent Time
was theUme of Enjoyment, but that the Time
of Account approached •, that the Work that re-
m.ain'd was gentler than the Labour paft, vlz^,
Rqsntance^ and that it was high Time to think of
^' it ^ I fay thefe, and fuch Thoughts as thefe, en-
grofsVl my Hours, and in a Word, I grew very
fid.
As to the Wealth I had, which was immenfely
great, it was all like Dirt under my Feet •, I had
no Value for it, no Peace in the PofTefiion of it,
no great Concern about me for the leaving of it.
WilUam had perceived my Thoughts to be
troubled, and my Mind heavy and oppreft for
foine Time-, and one Evening, in one of our cool
\\' alks, I bei^an with liim about the leaving our
Etfe£b. WilUam was a wif^ and wary Man, and
/ indeed all che Prudentials of my ConduO:, had
i for a long f ime been owing to his Advice, and fo
now all the Methods for prefer ving our Effects,
and even our felves lay upon h'm ; and he had
been telling me of fome of the Meafures he had
been taking for our making homeward, and for
the Security of our Wealth, when I took him
•very ihort . Why^ WilUamy fays I, do(}: thou think
wcjijall ever be able to reach Europe with all this Cargo
that we have about us.
Ay,
C 3^9 )
Ay ^ fays [F/'/Z/^w, without doubt, as well as other
Merchants with theirs, as long as it is not pub-
lickly known what Quantity^ or of what Value
our Cargo confifls.
Why, IVill/amj fays /, imiling, do you think
that if there is a God above ^ as you have {o long
been telling me there is, and that we muft give aii
Account to him ? 1 fay, Do you think if he be /
a righteous Judge, he. will let us efcape thus with ^
the Plunder, as we may call it, of fb many inno-/
cent People, nay, I might fay Nations, and not'
call us to an Account for it before we can get to
Enrofe^ where we pretend to enjoy it ?
William appeared ft ruck and furprizedat the
Queftion, and made no Anfwer for a great while,
and I repeated the Queftion, adding, that it was
not to be expeded.
After a little Paufe, fays William^ Thou haft
ftarted a very weighty Queftion, and I can make
no pofitive Anfwer to it, but I will ftate it thus ;
firft, it is Time, that if we confider the Juftice of
God, we have no Reafbn to expect any Prote^cion,
but as the ordinary Ways of Providence are out
of the common Road of human Affairs, fb we may
hope for Mercy ft ill upon our Repentance, and
we know not how good he may be to us ^ lb we
are to a£l: as if we rather depended upon the laft,
I mean the merciful Part, than claimed the
firft, which muft produce nothing but Judgment
and Vengeance.
But hark ye, William^ fays /, the Nature of Re-
pentance, as you hinted once to me, included
Reformation, and we can never reform ^ how
then can we repent ?
Why, can we never reform, /^j'j William ?
Becaufe,
( 3?o )
iBecaufe, faiA /, we cannot reftore what we
have taken away by Rapine and Spoil.
'Tis true, fays William^ we can never do that,
for we can never come to the Knowledge of the
Owners-
But what then muft be done with our Wealth,
[aid /, the Effefts of Plunder and Rapine ? If we
keep it, we continue to be Robbers and Thieves,
and if we quit it, we cannot do Juftice with it,
for we cannot reftore it to the right Owners ?
Nay, fays William^ the Anfwer to it is ihort ^
to quit what we have, and do it here, is to throw
it away to thofe who have no Claim to it, and to
diveft our felves of it, but to do no Right with
it •, whereas we ought to keep it carefully toge-
ther, with a Refblution to do what Right with it
we are able •, and who knows what Opportunity
Providence may put into our Hands, to do Juftice
at leaft to fome of thofe we have injured, {^o we
ought at leaft to leave it to him, and go on, as it
is, without doubt, our prefent Bufineis to do, to
Ibme Place of Safety, where we may wait his
Will.^
This Refolution of William was very fatisfying
to me indeed, as, the Truth is, all he laid, and at
all Times, was folid and good ^ and had not Wit-
Ham thus, as it were, quieted my Mind, I think
verily I was fo alarmed at the juft Reafon I had to
cxpe&r Vengeance from Heaven upon me for mv
ill-gotten Wealth, that I ftiould have run away
from it as the Devil's Goods ^ that I had nothing
to do with that did not belong to me, and that I
had no Right to keep, and was in certain Danger
of being deftroy'd for.
However, William fettled my Mind t<y more
prudent Steps than thefe, and I concluded that I
ought.
( 33' )
ought, however, to proceed to a Place of Safety^
and leave the Event to God Almighty's Mercy ^
but this I muft leave upon Record, that I had
from this Time no Joy of the Wealth I had got ;
I look'd upon it all as a flolen, and fo indeed the
greateft Part of it was ^ I look'd upon it as a
Hoard of other Mens Goods, which I had robbed
the innocent Owners of, and which I ought, in a
Word, to be hanged for here, and damned for
hereafter •, and now indeed I began lincerely to
hate my felf for a Dog, a Wretch that had been
a Thief, and a Murtherer*, a Wretch, that was
in a Condition which no Body was ever in^ for I
had robb'd^ amd tho* I had the Wealth by me,
yet it was impofTible 1 fhould ever make any
Reftitution •, and upon this Account it run in my.
Head, that I could never repent, for that Re-
pentance could not be fincere without Reftituti-
on, and therefore I muft of Necellity be damned,
there was no room for me to efcape : I went about
with my Heart full of thefe Thoughts, little bet- /
ter than a diftrafl:ed Fellow •, in fhort, running .
headlong into the dreadfulleft Defpair, and pre-
meditated nothing but how to rid my felf out of
the World ; and indeed the Devil, if fuch Things
are of the Devil's immediate doing, followed his
Work very clofe with me, and nothing lay upoa
my Mind for feveral Days, but to ihoot my felf
into the Head with my Piflol.
I was all this while in a vagrant Life, among
Infidels, Turks, Pagans, and fuch Sort of People ;
i had no Minifler, no Chriflian, to converfe with,
but poor Williamy he was my Ghoflly Father, or
ConfefTor, and he was all the Comfort I had. As
for my Knowledge of Religion, you have heard
myHiftory ^ you may fuppofe I had not much,
and
( 33^ )
and as for the Word of God, I don'c remember
that 1 ever read a Chapter in the Bible in my Life-
time ^ I was little Boh at Bujfelto^^ and went to '
School to learn my Tcftament, '
However, it plealed God to make ^;^7//^w^ the
Quaker every thing to me -^ upon this Occafion I
took him out one Evening as ufual, and hurried
him away into the Fields with me, in more Hafte
than ordinary, and there, in iliort, I told him
the Perplexity of my Mind, and under what ter-
rible Temptations of the Devil I had been, that
I muft flioot my felf, for I could not fupport the
Weight and Terror that was upon me.
Shoot your felf, fays WilUamy why, what will
that do for you ?
Why, fays /, 'twill put an End to a miferable
Life.
Well, fays William^ are you fatisfied the next
will be better ?
No, no, fays /, much worfe to be lure.
Why then, fays he^ ihoot your ielf is the De-
vil's Notion, no doubt, for 'tis the Devil of a
Reafon, that becaufe thou art in an ill Cafe, that
therefore thou muft put thy felf into a worfe.
This fhock\lmy Reafon indeed: Well, but
fays /, there is no bearing the miferable Condition
I am in.
Very well, fays William^ but it feems there is
folne bearing a worfe Condition, and lb you will
ihoot your felf, that you may be paft Remedy.
I am pafl Remedy already, fays L
How do you know that, fays he ?
I am fatisfied of it, faid L
Well, fays he, but you are not fure, fb you will
ihoot your felf to make it certain*, for tho' on this
fide Death you can't be fure you will be damned
at
( 355 )
at all, yet the Moment you ftep on the other fide
of Time, you are fure of it ^ for when 'tis done,
'tis not to be faid then that you will, but that you
are damned.
Welly Imty fays William, as if he had been betweert
Jefi and Earnefl^ P^^y? what didft thou dream ot
J aft Kight ?
Why, [aid /, I had frightful Dreams all Night,
and particularly I dreamt that the Devil came for
me, and asked me vvhat my Name was ? and I
told him, then he askt me what Trade 1 was ?
Trade, fays /, I am a Thief, a Rogue, by my Cal-
ling ^ I am a Pirate, and a Murtherer, and ought
to be hanged \ ay, ay, fays the Devil, fo you do,
and you are the Man I look'd for, and therefore
come along with me, at which I was moft horri-
bly frighted, and cried out, fo that it waked me,
and I have been in a horrible Agony ever fince.
Very well, fays William^ come, give me the
Piflol thou talk'ft of juft now.
Why, f/iys /, what will you do with it ?
Do with It y fays WilUamy why, thou needftnot
ilioot thy felf, I ihall be obliged to do it for thee,
why, thou wilt deftroy us all.
\A/hat do you mean, William^ faid I?
Mean, faid he^ nay, what dill thou mean ? to
cry out aloud in thy Sleep, I am a Thief ^ a Pirate^
u Murtherer J and ought to he hanged ^ why, thou
wilt ruine us all, 'twas well the Dutchman did not
underftand EngUflo : In fliort, I mud ilioot thee to /
fave my own Life ^ come, come, fays he^ give me I
thy PiftoL
I confefs, this terrified me again another Way,
and I began to be fenfible, that if any Body had
been near me to underfland Englijljy I had been
undone, and the Thought of iliooting my felf
forfook
( m)
fbrfook me from that Time, and I turned to IVit-
Ham \ you dilbrder me extremely, William^ [aid /,
^hy, I am never fafe, i:or is it fafe to keep me
Company, what fhall I do ? I fhall betray you all.
Come, come, Friend Bnh^ fays he, I'll put an
End to it all, if you will take my Advice.
How's that, fald Jr
Why only, fays he, that the next Tme thou
talkefi with the DevH, fhou wtlt talk a little foftlierj
Dr we iKall be all undone, and you too.
This frighted me, I muft confefs, and allayM a
great deal of the Trouble of Mind I was in •, but
Wlttlamy after he had done jefting with me, enter-
<ed.upon a very long and ferious Difcourfe with me
about the Nature of my Circumftances, and about
Repentance, that it ought to be attended indeed
with a deep Abhorrence of the Crime that I had
to charge my felf with, but that to delpair of
,God's Mercy was no Part of Repentance, but put-
ting my felf into the Condition of the Devil •, in-
deed, that 1 muft apply my felf with a fincere
humble ConfeiTion of my Crime, to ask Pardon of
God whom I had offended, and caft my felf upon
his Mercy, refolving to be willing to make Re-
-iiitution, if ever it fhould pleafe God to put it in-
to my Power, even to the utmoft of what I had in
the World •, and this he told me was the Method
which he had refolved upon himfelf, and in this
he told me he had found Comfort,
I had a great deal of SatisfaOrion in WHUarn^
Difcourfe, and it quieted me very much ; but
William was very anxious ever after about my
talking in my Sleep, and took care to lye with me
always himfelf, and to keep me from Lodging in
.any Houfe, where fo much a^ a Word of Englijh
■was underflood.
However^
( 335 )
However, there was not the like Occaiion af-
terward, for I was much more compofed in my
Mind, and refblved for the future to live a quite
differing Life from what I had done : As to the
Wealth I had, 1 look'd upon it as nothing ^ I re-
fblved to fet it apart to any fuch Opportunity of
doing Juftice, that God fhould put into my
Hand, and the miraculous Opportunity I had af-
terwards of applying fbme Parts of it to preferve |
a ruined Family, whom I had plunderM, may be
worth reading, if 1 have Room for it in this Ac- /
count.
With thefe Refblutions I began to be reflored
to Ibme Degrees of Quiet in my Mind, and
having after almoft three Months Stay at Baf-
fora dilpofed of Ibme Goods • but having a
great Quantity left, we hired Boats according
to the Dutchman's Direftion, and went up to Bug-
daty or Babylon^ on the River Tygris, or rather £«-
fhrates'^ we had a very confiderable Cargo of
Goods with U5, and therefore made a great Fi-
gure there, and were receiv'd with Refpe£t ; we
had in Particular, two and Forty Bales of Indian
StuflEs of fundry Sorts, Silk, Muflins, and fine
Chints ^ we had Fifteen Bales of very fine China
Silks, and Seventy Packs or Bales of Spices, par-
ticularly Cloves and Nutmegs, with other Goods ;
we were bid Money here for our Cloves, but the
Dutchman advifed us not to part with them, and
told us, we ihould get a better Price at Aleffo^
or in the Levant^ fo we prepared for the Ca-
ravan.
We concealed our having any Gold, or Pearls,
as much as we could, and therefore ibid Three
or Four Bales o^ China Silks, and Indian Callicoes,
t^ raife Money to buy Cancels, and to pay the
Cuftoms,
( ^^6 )
Cuftoms, which are taken at feveral Places, and
for our Provifionsover the Defarts.
1 travelled this Journey carelefs to the laft De-
gree of my Goods or Wealth, believing, that as
I came by it all by Rapine and Violence, God
would dire£l, that it iliould be taken from me
again in the fame Manner ^ and indeed, I think I
might fay, 1 was very willing it fliould be lb ;
but as I had a merciful ProteOior above me, ib I
had a moft faithful Steward, Gounfellor, Partner,
or whatever I might call him, who was my Guide,
my Pilot, my Governor, my every thing, and
took care both of me, and of all we had ; and
tho' he had never been in any of thefe Parts of
the World, yet he took the Care of all upon him ^
nnd in about Nine and Fifty Days we arriv'd
from Bafora, at the Mouth of the River Tygrls
and Euphrates^ thro' the Deiart, and thro' jdUppa
to Alexandria J or as we call it, Scandcroon^ in the
Levant.
Here William and I, and the other two, our
faithful Comrades, debated what we fhould do ^
and here William and I refolved to feparate from
the other Two, they refolving to go with the
Dutchman into Holland^ and by the Means of
Ibme Butch Ship which lay then in the Road:
William and I told them, we refolved to go and
fettle in the Morea^ which then belonged to the
Venetians.
It is true, we aded wifely in it not to let them
know whither we went, feeing we had refolved
to feparate, but we took our old DoOror's Di-
reftions how to write to him in Holland., and
in England^ that we might have Intelligence
from him on Occafion, aiid promifed to give
him an Account how to write to us, which
we
( 3^7 ).
we afterwards did, as may in Time be made
out.
We ftay'd here fome Time after tliey were
gone, till at length not being thoroughly refolved
whither to go till then, a Venetian Ship touch'd at
Cyprusy and put in at Scanderoon to look for Freight
Home : We took the Hint, and bargaining for our
Paffage, and the Freight of our Goods, we em-
bar k'd for Venice y where in two and Twenty
Days we arrived fafe with all our Treafure, and
with fuch a Cargo, take our Goods, and our Mo-
ney, and our Jewels together, as I believe was
never brought into the City by Two fuigle Men,
fince the State of Venice had a Being.
We kept our lelves here incognito for a great
while, pafiing for Two Armenian Merchants ftill,
as we had done before ; and by this Time we had
gotten fo much of the Terfian and Armenian Jargon,
which they talk'd at Bajftray and Bagdat, and eve-
ry where that we came in the Country, as was
fufficient to make us able to talk to one another,
fo as not to be under ftood by any Body, though
fometimes hardly by our lelves.
Here we converted all our Efteds into Money,
lettled our Abode as for a confiderable Time, and
William and I maintaining an inviolable Friendship
and Fidelity to one another, lived like two Bro-
thers ^ we neither had or fought any feparate In*
tereft ^ we conversM ferioufly and gravely, and
upon the Subject of our Repentance continually;
we never changed, that is to fay, ib as to leave
off our Armenian Garbs, and we were called at Ve^
nice the two Grecians.
I have been two or three times going to give a
Detail of our Wealth, but it will appear incredi-
\Ae^ and we had the greatefl Difficulty in the
A a World
f 5^8 )
World how to conceal it, being juftly apprelien--
five left we might be alTalliiiated in that Country
for our Treafure ^ at length William told me, he-
began to think now that he muft never lee Eng-
land any more, and that indeed he did not much'
concern himfelf about it ^ but feeing we had
gained lb great a Wealth, and he had fome poor
Relations in jE;7^/^W,and, if I was wil]ing,he would
write to know if they were living, and to know
what Condition they were in •, and if he found
fuch of them were alive, as he had fome Thoughts
about, he would, with my Confent, fend them;
fomething to better their Condition.
I confented moft willingly, and accordingly
William wrote to a Sifter, and an Uncle, and in
Jibout five Weeks Time received an Anfwer from'
them both, direO:ed to himfelf, under Cover of a-
hard Armenian Name that he had given himfelf^
'WiT^^ Seignior Conftantine Ahxion of Jffahan at Ve-
iiice.
It was a very moving Letter he receiv'd from'
his Sifter, who after the moft paiilonate Expreffi-
ons of Joy to hear he was alive, feeing ftie had
long ago had an Account that he was murtheredby
the Pirates in theW^ejlr Inifes- \ ilie intreats him to
let her know v^rhat Circumftances he was in *, tells
him, ^\^ was not in any Capacity to do any thing
conftderable for him, but that he fiwuld/be wel-
come to her with all her Heart ; that fke was left
a Widow with Four Children, but kept a little
Shop in the Minories^ by which ilie madeihift to
maintain her Family • and that fhe had fent him
Five Pound, left he fhould want Money in a
ftrtinge Country^ to bring him Heme.
I could
( 339 )
1 could fee the Letter brought Tears out of his
^yes, as he read it, and mdeed when he fhevved it
'iTie, and the little Bill for Five Pounds upon an
JE:;7^//J?j Merchant in Venice^ it brought Tears out
ot ifiy Eyes too.
After we had been hoth affe3:ed fufGciently
-with the Tendernefs and Kindnefs of this Letter,
he turns to me, fays he, what ihall I do for this
poor V^/oman ? 1 mufed a while, at laft, fays /,
I will tell you what you fhall do for her •, fhe
'has fent you Five Pounds, and ihe has. Four Chil-
dren, and her felf, that's Five ^ fuch a Sum from
■a poor V/cman in her Circumftances, is as much
as Five Thoufand Pounds is to us : You fliall fend
her a Bill of Exchange for Five Thoufand Pounds
E'ftgli^ Money, and bid her conceal her Surprize
at it, till fKe hears from you again, but bid her
leave off her Shop, and go' and take a Houfe fome
where "in the Country, not far off from Londoriy
and ftay there in a moderate Figure, tili ihe hears
from you again.
Kow, fays WilUamj I perceive by it that you
have fome Thoughts of venturing into Englorid,
Indeed Willlamy fald ly you miftake me, but it
prefently occurred tome that you fhould venture ;
■for what have you done that you may not be feen
there ? Why fhould I deiire to keep you from
your Relations purely to keep me Company ?
William look'd very affe8:ionately upon me -
nay, fays he^ we have embarked together {o long,
and come together fb far, I am refolved I'll never
^art with thee as long as I live, go where thou
-wilt, or ftay where thou wilt :, and as for my
Sifter, f dd William^ I cannot fend her fuch a Sumi
-of Money *, for whole is ail this Money we have ?
'j£is mofl: of it thine.
Aa 2 Ko
( 5+0 )
No, WilUam^ faid /, there is not a Penny of it
inine bu^ what is yours too, and I won't have
any thing but an equal Share with you, and
therefore you fhall fend it to her, if not, I will
lend it.
Why, f^'s William^ it will make the poor Wo-
3nan diliracted, ilie will be fo furprized, ihe will
go out of her Wits • well, [aid William^ you may
ilo it prudently •, fend her a Bill back'd of a Hun-
dred Pounds, and bid her expecl more in a Poft
or two ^ and that you will lend her enough to
live on without keeping Shop, and then fend her
more.
Accordingly William fent her a very kind Let-
ter, with a Bill upon a Merchant in London for a
Hundred and Sixty Pound, and bid her comfort
her felf with the Hope, that he fhould be able in
a little Time to fend her more. About ten Days
after he fent her another Bill of Five Hundred,
^nd Forty Pound, and a Pofl: or two after another
for Three Hundred Pound, making in all a Thou-
fand Pound ^ and told her he would fend her fuf-
ficient to leave off her Shop, and directed her to
take a Houfe, as above.
He waited then till he received an Anfwer to
all the Three Letters, with an Account, that ihe
had received the Money, and which I did not
expert, that ihe had not let any other Acquain-
tance knov/ that fhe had received a Shilling from
any Body, or lb much as that he was alive, and
'vould not till ihe heard again.
"When he fhewed me this Letter, well, William
/aid /, this Woman is fit to be truflied with Life
or any thing, fend her the refl' of the Five Thou-
fand Pound", and I'll venture to England with you,
to this Woman's Houfe, whenever you will
In
( 3^0
In a Word, we fent her Five Thoufand Pound /
in good Bills, and fhe received them pundually,
and in a little Time fent her Brother \Vord, that
ihe had pretended to her Uncle that flie was
iickly, and could not carry on the Trade any
longer, and that fhe had taken a large Houf^
about Four Miles from London ^ under Pretence of
letting Lodgings for her Liv^elihood ; and, inihort, /
intimated as if fhe underftood that he intended to '
come over to be Incognito^ afTuring him he fhould
be as retired as he plealed.
This was opening the very Door for us, that
we thought had been eftedrually ihut for this Life ^ /
and in a Word, v^^e refolved to venture, but to ^
keep our felves entirely concealed, both as to
Name, and every other Circumftance ; and ac-
cordingly William fent his Sifter Word, how
kindly he took her prudent Steps, and that ilie
had gueffed right, that he defired to be retired,
and that he obliged her not to increaie her Fi-
gure, but live private, till fhe might perhaps fee
him.
He was going to fend the Letter away ^ come,
William^ [aid /, you fhan't lend her an empty L,etr
ter, tell her, you have a Friend coming with
you, that muft be as retired as your felf, and Til
fend her Five Thoufand Pound more.
So in ihort we made this poor Woman's Fami-
ly rich, and yet when it came to the Point, my
Heart failed me, and I durft not venture, and
for William^ he would not ftir without me, and ib
we ftayed about two Year after this, confidering
what we fliould do.
You may think, perhaps, that I was very pro-
digal of my ill-gotten Goods, thus to load a Stran-
ger with my Bounty, and give a Gift like a
Prince
( ?4-2 •)
Prince to one that had been able to merit nothing
of me, or indeed know me : But my Condition
ought to be confidered in this Cafe -^ tliough I
Jiad Money to Profufion, yet I was perfectly de-
stitute of a Friend in the World to have the leaft
Obligation or AfTiftance from, or knew not either
where to difpofe or trufl any Thing I had while I
lived, or whom to give it to, if I died.
When I had refie£ted upon the Manner of my
Getting of it, I was fometimes for giving of it all
to charitable Ufes, as a Debt due to Mankind,
though I was a Rom.an-Catholick, and not at all
of the Opinion, that it would purchafe me any
Repofe to my Soul :, but 1 thQWghit;, as it was got
by a general Plunder, and whtelf t'could make no
Satisfafl:ion for, it was dueto 'th^ Community,
and I ought to diftribute it for the general Good.
But ftill I was at a Lofs how," and- whei'e, and by
wiTom to lettle this Charity, 'not daring to go
Home to my own Country, left fome of my Com-
rades flroled Home Ihould (ee and detect me;
and, for the very Spoil of my Money, or the Pur-
chafe of his own Pardon^' betray and expofe me to
an untimely End^ ^>':'-^ "i •■ '^'
Being thus delVitute, I fay, of a Friend, I
pitch'd thus u^ow William sSi^er'^ ' the kind Step
of her's to her Brother, who (he thought to be
in Diftrefs, Signifying a gjffe'folis Mind, and a
charitable Difpofition •, and having refolved to
snake her the ObjeO: of my firft Bounty, I did not:
'doubt but I jhould purchafe fomething of aRefuge
for my felf, and a kiiid of a Centre, to which I
Should tend in my future Actions •, for- really a^
Man that has a Subiiftance, and no Refidence, no
Place that has a Mag ne tick Influ3hce upon his
Affefltions, is in one of the moft odd uneafy Con-
. " " ditions
( 54^ )
ditions in the World •, nor is it in the Power of
all his Money to make it up to him.
It was, as I told you, two Year and upwards,,
that we remained at Venice^ and thereabout, in
the greatell Hefitation imaginable, irrefblute and /
unfixed to the laft Degree. William^ Sifter im-/
portuned us daily to come to England^ and won-
dered we ihould not dare to truft her, whom we
had to fuch a Degree obliged to be faithful • and
in a Manner lamented her being fufpeflied by us. fl
At laft I began to incline ^ and 1 faid to William^
Come, Brother William^ [aid /, for ever (tnce our
JDifcourfe at Balfara, / called him Brother j if you
will agree to two or three Things with me, I'll go
Home to England with all my Heart.
Says William^ let me know what they are.
Why firft, fays /, you ihall not difclofe your
felf to any of your Relations in England^ but your
Sifter, no not to one. /
Secondly, we will not ftiave off our Muftachoes ' i
or Beards, (for we had all along worn our Beards '
after the Grecian Manner) nor leave off our long
Vefts, that we may pafs for Grecians and Foreigners.
Thirdly, That we ihall never fpeak Englifh In
publick before any body ,^ your Sifter excepted.
Fourthly, That we will always live together,'
and pafs for Brothers.
William f2iidy he would agree to. them all withi
all his Heart ^ but that the not fpeaking EngliJJj
would be the hardeft ^ but he would do bis beft:
for that too : So, in a Word, wc agreed to go
from Fenice to Naflesy where we' verted a large
Sum of Money in Bales of Silk, left a large Sum
in a Merchant's Harxds fct Venice^ ar^i another con-
fiderable Sum at Nafles^ aiid J:ook Bills of Ex-
change for a great deal toor and yet we came
with
\vkh fuch a Cargoe to London ^ as ie\v,^merkdn
Merchants had done for Ibme Years ^ for ^ve
loaded in two Ships feventy three Bales of thrown
Silk, befides thirteen Bale's of wrought Silks from
the Dutchy of AliUn, fhipt ^tGenow^ with all
which I arrived iafely, and fome time after mar-
ried my faithful Proteftrefs, Williams Siller,
with whom 1 am much more happy than I deferve.
And now. having fo plainly told you, that I
am come to England^ after 1 have fo boldly own'd
^Avhat Life I have led abroad, 'tis Time to leave
. ofl, and lay no more for the prefent, left fome
fli'juld be willing to inquire too nicely after
Tour Old Friendj
Captain B o j3.
FINIS,
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