From hence they sailed to _Bonevista_, and looked into that Harbour, but

finding nothing, they steer'd for the Isle of _May_: When they arrived

here, they met with a great many Ships and Vessels in the Road, all which

they plundered, taking out of them whatever they wanted; and also

strengthen'd themselves with a great many fresh Hands, who most of them

enter'd voluntarily. One of the Ships they took to their own Use, mounted

her with twenty six Guns, and call'd her the _King James_. There being no

fresh Water hereabouts, they made towards St. _Jago_, belonging to the

_Portuguese_, in order to lay in a Store; _Davis_, with a few Hands, going

ashore to find the most commodious Place to water at, the Governor, with

some Attendants, came himself and examined who they were, and whence they

came? And not liking _Davis_'s Account of himself, the Governor was so

plain to tell them, he suspected them to be Pyrates. _Davis_ seemed

mightily affronted, standing much upon his Honour, replying to the

Governor, he scorn'd his Words; however, as soon as his Back was turn'd,

for fear of Accidents, he got on Board again as fast as he could. _Davis_

related what had happened, and his Men seemed to resent the Affront which

had been offered him. _Davis_, upon this, told them, he was confident he

could surprize the Fort in the Night; they agreed with him to attempt it,

and accordingly, when it grew late, they went ashore well arm'd; and the

Guard which was kept, was so negligent, that they got within the Fort

before any Alarm was given: When it was too late there was some little

Resistance made, and three Men killed on _Davis_'s Side. Those in the Fort,

in their Hurry, run into the Governor's House to save themselves, which

they barricadoed so strongly, that _Davis_'s Party could not enter it;

however, they threw in Granadoe-Shells, which not only ruin'd all the

Furniture, but kill'd several Men within.

When it was Day the whole Country was alarm'd, and came to attack the

Pyrates; wherefore it not being their Business to stand a Siege, they made

the best of their Way on Board their Ship again, after having dismounted

the Guns of the Fort. By this Enterprize they did a great Deal of Mischief

to the _Portuguese_, and but very little Good to themselves.

Having put to Sea they muster'd their Hands, and found themselves near

seventy strong; then it was proposed what Course they should steer, and

differing in their Opinions, they divided, and by a Majority it was carried

for _Gambia_ on the Coast of _Guiney_; of this Opinion was _Davis_, he

having been employ'd in that Trade, was acquainted with the Coast: He told

them, that there was a great deal of Money always kept in _Gambia_ Castle,

and that it would be worth their while to make an Attempt upon it. They

ask'd him how it was possible, since it was garrisoned? He desired they

would leave the Management of it to him, and he would undertake to make

them Masters of it. They began now to conceive so high an Opinion of his

Conduct, as well as Courage, that they thought nothing impossible to him,

therefore they agreed to obey him, without enquiring further into his

Design.

Having come within Sight of the Place, he ordered all his Men under Deck,

except as many as were absolutely necessary for working the Ship, that

those from the Fort seeing a Ship with so few Hands, might have no

Suspicion of her being any other than a trading Vessel; then he ran close

under the Fort, and there cast Anchor; and having ordered out the Boat, he

commanded six Men in her, in old ordinary Jackets, while he himself, with

the Master and Doctor, dressed themselves like Gentlemen; his Design being,

that the Men should look like common Sailors, and they like Merchants. In

rowing ashore he gave his Men Instructions what to say in Case any

Questions should be asked them.

Being come to the landing Place, he was received by a File of Musqueteers,

and conducted into the Fort, where the Governor accosting them civilly,

ask'd them who they were, and whence they came? They answered they were of

_Liverpool_, bound for the River of _Sinnegal_, to trade for Gum and

Elephants Teeth, but that they were chaced on that Coast by two _French_

Men of War, and narrowly escaped being taken, having a little the Heels of

them; but now they were resolved to make the best of a bad Market, and

would Trade here for Slaves; then the Governor ask'd them, what was the

chief of their Cargo? They answered, Iron and Plate, which were good Things

there; the Governor told them he would Slave them to the full Value of

their Cargoe, and asked them, if they had any _European_ Liquor on Board?

they answered, a little for their own Use; however, a Hamper should be at

his Service. The Governor then very civilly invited them all to stay and

dine with him; _Davis_ told him, that being Commander of the Ship, he must

go on Board to see her well moored, and give some other Orders, but those

two Gentlemen might stay, and that he himself would also return before

Dinner, and bring the Hamper of Liquor with him.

While he was in the Fort, his Eyes were very busy in observing how Things

lay; he took Notice there was a Centry at the Entrance, and a Guard-House

just by it, where the Soldiers upon Duty commonly waited, their Arms

standing in a Corner, in a Heap; he saw also a great many small Arms in the

Governor's Hall; now when he came on Board, he assured his Men of Success,

desiring them not to get drunk, and that as soon as they saw the Flag upon

the Castle struck, they might conclude he was Master, and send twenty Hands

immediately ashore; in the mean Time, there being a Sloop at Anchor near

them, he sent some Hands in a Boat, to secure the Master and all the Men,

and bring them on Board of him, least they observing any Bustle or arming

in his Ship, might send ashore and give Intelligence.

These Precautions being taken, he ordered his Men, who were to go in the

Boat with him, to put two Pair of Pistols each under their Cloaths, he

doing the like himself, and gave them Directions to go into the Guard-Room,

and to enter into Conversation with the Soldiers, and observe when he

should fire a Pistol thro' the Governor's Window, to start up at once and

secure the Arms in the Guard-Room.

When _Davis_ arrived, Dinner not being ready, the Governor proposed that

they should pass their Time in making a Bowl of Punch till Dinner-Time: It

must be observed, that _Davis_'s Coxen waited upon them, who had an

Opportunity of going about all Parts of the House, to see what Strength

they had, he whispered _Davis_, there being no Person then in the Room, but

he, _(Davis)_ the Master, the Doctor, the Coxen and Governor; _Davis_ on a

sudden drew out a Pistol, clapt it to the Governor's Breast, telling him,

he must surrender the Fort and all the Riches in it, or he was a dead Man.

The Governor being no Ways prepared for such an Attack, promised to be very

Passive, and do all they desired, therefore they shut the Door, took down

all the Arms that hung in the Hall, and loaded them. _Davis_ fires his

Pistol thro' the Window, upon which his Men, without, executed their Part

of the Scheme, like Heroes, in an Instant; getting betwixt the Soldiers and

their Arms, all with their Pistols cock'd in their Hands, while one of them

carried the Arms out. When this was done, they locked the Soldiers into the

Guard-Room, and kept Guard without.

In the mean Time one of them struck the Union Flag on the Top of the

Castle, at which Signal those on Board sent on Shore a Reinforcement of

Hands, and they got Possession of the Fort without the least Hurry or

Confusion, or so much as a Man lost of either Side.

_Davis_ harangued the Soldiers, upon which a great many of them took on

with him, those who refused, he sent on Board the little Sloop, and because

he would not be at the Trouble of a Guard for them, he ordered all the

Sails and Cables out of her, which might hinder them from attempting to get

away.

This Day was spent in a kind of Rejoycing, the Castle firing her Guns to

salute the Ship, and the Ship the Castle; but the next Day they minded

their Business, that is, they fell to plundering, but they found Things

fall vastly short of their Expectation; for they discovered, that a great

deal of Money had been lately sent away; however, they met with the Value

of about two thousand Pounds Sterling in Bar Gold, and a great many other

rich Effects: Every Thing they liked, which was portable, they brought

aboard their Ship; some Things which they had no Use for, they were so

generous to make a Present of, to the Master and Crew of the little Sloop,

to whom they also returned his Vessel again, and then they fell to work in

dismounting the Guns, and demolishing the Fortifications.

After they had done as much Mischief as they could, and were weighing

Anchor to be gone, they spy'd a Ship bearing down upon them in full Sail;

they soon got their Anchor's up, and were in a Readiness to receive her.

This Ship prov'd to be a _French_ Pyrate of fourteen Guns and sixty four

Hands, half _French_, half Negroes; the Captain's Name was _La Bouse_; he

expected no less than a rich Prize, which made him so eager in the Chace;

but when he came near enough to see their Guns, and the Number of their

Hands upon Deck, he began to think he should catch a _Tartar_, and supposed

her to be a small _English_ Man of War; however, since there was no

escaping, he resolved to do a bold and desperate Action, which was to board

_Davis_. As he was making towards her, for this Purpose, he fired a Gun,

and hoisted his black Colours; _Davis_ returned the Salute, and hoisted his

black Colours also. The _French_ Man was not a little pleased at this happy

Mistake; they both hoisted out their Boats, and the Captains went to meet

and congratulate one another with a Flag of Truce in their Sterns; a great

many Civilities passed between them, and _La Bouse_ desired _Davis_, that

they might sail down the Coast together, that he _(La Bouse)_ might get a

better Ship: _Davis_ agreed to it, and very courteously promised him the

first Ship he took, fit for his Use, he would give him, as being willing to

encourage a willing Brother.

The first Place they touch'd at, was _Sierraleon_, where at first going in,

they spied a tall Ship at Anchor; _Davis_ being the best Sailor first came

up with her, and wondering that she did not try to make off, suspected her

to be a Ship of Force. As soon as he came along Side of her, she brought a

Spring upon her Cable, and fired a whole Broadside upon _Davis_, at the

same Time hoisted a black Flag; _Davis_ hoisted his black Flag in like

Manner, and fired one Gun to Leeward.

In fine, she proved to be a Pyrate Ship of twenty four Guns, commanded by

one _Cocklyn_, who expecting these two would prove Prizes, let them come

in, least his getting under Sail might frighten them away.

This Satisfaction was great on all Sides, at this Junction of Confederates

and Brethren in Iniquity; two Days they spent in improving their

Acquaintance and Friendship, the third Day _Davis_ and _Cocklyn_, agreed to

go in _La Bouse_'s Brigantine and attack the Fort; they contrived it so, as

to get up thither by high Water; those in the Fort suspected them to be

what they really were, and therefore stood upon their Defence; when the

Brigantine came within Musket-Shot, the Fort fired all their Guns upon her,

the Brigantine did the like upon the Fort, and so held each other in Play

for several Hours, when the two confederate Ships were come up to the

Assistance of the Brigantine; those who defended the Fort, seeing such a

Number of Hands on Board these Ships, had not the Courage to stand it any

longer, but abandoning the Fort, left it to the Mercy of the Pyrates.

They took Possession of it, and continued there near seven Weeks, in which

Time they all cleaned their Ships. We should have observed, that a Galley

came into the Road while they were there, which _Davis_ insisted should be

yielded to _La Bouse_, according to his Word of Honour before given;

_Cocklyn_ did not oppose it, so _La Bouse_ went into her, with his Crew,

and cutting away her half Deck, mounted her with twenty four Guns.

Having called a Counsel of War, they agreed to sail down the Coast

together, and for the greater Grandeur, appointed a Commadore, which was

_Davis_; but they had not kept Company long, when drinking together on

Board of _Davis_, they had like to have fallen together by the Ears, the

strong Liquor stirring up a Spirit of Discord among them, and they

quarrelled, but _Davis_ put an End to it, by this short Speech:--_Heark ye,

you_ Cocklin _and_ La Bouse, _I find by strengthening you, I have put a Rod

into your Hands to whip my self, but I'm still able to deal with you both;

but since we met in Love, let us part in Love, for I find, that three of a

Trade can never agree_.--Upon which the other two went on Board their

respective Ships, and immediately parted, each steering a different Course.

_Davis_ held on his Way down the Coast, and making Cape _Appollonia_, he

met with two _Scotch_ and one _English_ Vessel, which he plundered, and

then let go. About five Days after he fell in with a _Dutch_ Interloper of

thirty Guns and ninety Men, (half being _English_,) off Cape _Three Points_

Bay; _Davis_ coming up along Side of her, the _Dutch_ Man gave the first

Fire, and pouring in a broad-Side upon _Davis_, killed nine of his Men,

_Davis_ returned it, and a very hot Engagement followed, which lasted from

one a Clock at Noon, till nine next Morning, when the _Dutch_ Man struck,

and yielded her self their Prize.

_Davis_ fitted up the _Dutch_ Ship for his own Use, and called her the

_Rover_, aboard of which he mounted thirty two Guns, and twenty seven

Swivels, and proceeded with her and the _King James_, to _Anamaboe_; he

entered the Bay betwixt the Hours of twelve and one at Noon, and found

there three Ships lying at Anchor, who were trading for Negroes, Gold and

Teeth: The Names of these Ships were the _Hink_ Pink, Captain _Hall_

Commander, the _Princess_, Captain _Plumb_, of which _Roberts_, who will

make a considerable Figure in the sequel of this History, was second Mate,

and the _Morrice_ Sloop, Captain _Fin_; he takes these Ships without any

Resistance, and having plundered them, he makes a Present of one of them,

_viz._ the _Morrice_ Sloop, to the _Dutch_ Men, on Board of which alone

were found a hundred and forty Negroes, besides dry Goods, and a

considerable Quantity of Gold-Dust.

It happened there were several Canoes along Side of this last, when _Davis_

came in, who saved themselves and got ashore; these gave Notice at the

Fort, that these Ships were Pyrates, upon which the Fort fired upon them,

but without any Execution, for their Mettle was not of Weight enough to

reach them; _Davis_ therefore, by Way of Defiance, hoisted his black Flag

and returned their Compliment.

The same Day he sail'd with his three Ships, making his Way down the Coast

towards _Princes_, a _Portuguese_ Colony: But, before we proceed any

farther in _Davis_'s Story, we shall give our Reader an Account of the

_Portuguese_ Settlements on this Coast, with other curious Remarks, as they

were communicated to me by an ingenious Gentleman, lately arrived from

those Parts.

_A Description of the Islands of_ St. THOME, DEL PRINCIPE, _and_

ANNOBONO.

AS the _Portuguese_ were the great Improvers of Navigation, and the

first _Europeans_ who traded too and settled on the Coasts of _Africa_,

even round to _India_, and made those Discoveries, which now turn so much

to the Advantage of other Nations, it may not be amiss, previously to a

Description of those Islands, to hint on that wonderful Property of the

Loadstone, that a little before had been found out, and enabled them to

pursue such new and daring Navigations.

The attractive Power of the Loadstone, was universally known with the

Ancients, as may be believed by its being a native Fossil of the

_Grecians_, (_Magnes a Magnesia_) but its directive, or polar Virtue, has

only been known to us within this 350 Years, and said to be found out by

_John Goia_ of _Malphi_, in the Kingdom of _Naples, Prima dedit nautis usum

magnetis Amalphi_; tho' others think, and assure us, it was transported by

_Paulus Venetus_ from _China_ to _Italy_, like the other famous Arts of

modern Use with us, PRINTING and _the Use of_ GUNS.

The other Properties of Improvements of the Magnet, _viz._ Variation, or

its Defluction from an exact N. or S. Line, Variation of that Variation,

and its Inclination, were the Inventions of _Sebastian Cabot_, Mr.

_Gellibrand_, and Mr. _Norman_; the Inclination of the Needle, or that

Property whereby it keeps an Elevation above the Horizon, in all Places but

under the Equator, (where its Parallel) is as surprizing a Phænomenon as

any, and was the Discovery of our Countrymen; and could it be found

regular, I imagine would very much help towards the Discovery of Longitude,

at least would point out better Methods than hitherto known, when Ships

drew nigh Land, which would answer as useful an End.

Before the Verticity and Use of the Compass, the _Portuguese_ Navigations

had extended no farther than Cape _Non_, (it was their _ne plus ultra_,)

and therefore so called; distress of Weather, indeed, had drove some

Coasters to _Porto Santo_, and _Madera_, before any certain Method of

steering was invented; but after the Needle was seen thus inspired,

Navigation every Year improved under the great Incouragements of _Henry,

Alphonsus_, and _John_ II. Kings of _Portugal_, in Part of the 14th and in

the 15th Century.

King _Alphonsus_ was not so much at leasure as his Predecessor, to pursue

these Discoveries, but having seen the Advantages accrued to _Portugal_ by

them, and that the Pope had confirmed the perpetual Donation of all they

should discover between Cape _Bajadore_ and _India_, inclusively, he

resolved not to neglect the proper Assistance, and farmed the Profits that

did or might ensue to one _Bernard Gomez_, a Citizen of _Lisbon_, who was

every Voyage obliged to discover 100 Leagues, still farther on: And about

the Year 1470 made these Islands, the only Places (of all the considerable

and large Colonies they had in _Africa_,) that do now remain to that Crown.

St. _Thome_ is the principal of the three, whose Governour is stiled

Captain General of the Islands, and from whom the other at _Princes_

receives his Commission, tho' nominated by the Court of _Portugal_: It is a

Bishoprick with a great many secular Clergy who appear to have neither

Learning nor Devotion, as may be judged by several of them being Negroes:

One of the Chief of them, invited us to hear Mass, as a Diversion to pass

Time away, where he, and his inferior Brethren acted such affected Gestures

and Strains of Voice, as shewed to their Dishonour, they had no other Aim

than pleasing us; and what I think was still worse, it was not without a

View of Interest; for as these Clergy are the chief Traders, they stoop to

pitiful and scandalous Methods for ingratiating themselves: They and the

Government, on this trading Account, maintain as great Harmony, being ever

jealous of each other, and practising little deceitful Arts to monopolize

what Strangers have to offer for sale, whether Toys or Cloaths, which of

all Sorts are ever Commodious with the _Portuguese_, in all Parts of the

World; an ordinary Suit of Black will sell for seven or eight Pound; a

Turnstile Wig of four Shillings, for a Moidore; a Watch of forty Shillings,

for six Pound, _&c_.

The Town is of mean Building, but large and populous, the Residence of the

greater Part of the Natives, who, thro' the whole Island, are computed at

10000, the Militia at 3000, and are in general, a rascally thievish

Generation, as an old grave Friend of mine can Witness; for he having

carried a Bag of second hand Cloaths on Shore, to truck for Provisions,

seated himself on the Sand for that Purpose, presently gathered a Crowd

round him, to view them; one of which desired to know the Price of a black

Suit, that unluckily lay uppermost, and was the best of them, agreeing to

the Demand, with little Hesitation, provided it would but fit him; he put

them on immediately, in as much hurry as possible, without any _co-licentia

Seignor_; and when my Friend was about to commend the Goodness of the Suit,

and Exactness they set with, not dreaming of the Impudence of running away

from a Crowd, the Rascal took to his Heels, my Friend followed and bawled

very much, and tho' there was 500 People about the Place, it served to no

other End but making him a clear Stage, that the best Pair of Heels might

carry it; so he lost the Suit of Cloaths, and before he could return to his

Bag, others of them had beat off his Servant, and shared the rest.

Most of the Ships from _Guiney_, of their own Nation, and frequently those

of ours, call at one or other of these Islands, to recruit with fresh

Provisions, and take in Water, which on the Coast are not so good, nor so

conveniently to come by: Their own Ships likewise, when they touch here,

are obliged to leave the King his Custom for their Slaves, which is always

in Gold, at so much a Head, without any Deduction at _Brasil_, for the

Mortality that may happen afterwards; this by being a constant Bank to pay

off the civil and military Charges of the Government, prevents the

Inconveniency of Remittances, and keeps both it and _Princes_ Isle rich

enough to pay ready Money for every Thing they want of _Europeans_.

Their Beefs are small and lean, (two hundred Weight or a little more,) but

the Goats, Hogs and Fowls very good, their Sugar course and dirty, and Rum

very ordinary; as these Refreshments lay most with People who are in want

of other Necessaries, they come to us in Way of bartering, very cheap: A

good Hog for an old Cutlash; a fat Fowl for a Span of _Brasil_ Tobacco, (no

other Sort being valued, _&c_.) But with Money you give eight Dollars _per_

Head for Cattle; three Dollars for a Goat; six Dollars for a grown Hog; a

Testune and a Half for a Fowl; a Dollar _per_ Gallon for Rum; two Dollars a

Roove for Sugar; and half a Dollar for a Dozen of Paraquets: Here is Plenty

likewise of Corn and Farine, of Limes, Citrons and Yamms.

The Island is reckoned nigh a Square, each Side 18 Leagues long, hilly, and

lays under the _Æquinoctial_, a wooden Bridge just without the Town, being

said not to deviate the least Part of a Minute, either to the Southward or

Northward; and notwithstanding this warm Scituation, and continual vertical

Suns, the Islanders are very healthy, imputed by those who are disposed to

be merry, in a great Measure to the Want of even so much as one Surgeon or

Physician amongst them.

Isle _Del Principe_, the next in Magnitude, a pleasant and delightful Spot

to the grave, and thoughtfull Disposition of the _Portuguese_, an

Improvement of Country Retirement, in that, this may be a happy and

uninterrupted Retreat from the whole World.

I shall divide what I have to say on this Island, into Observations made on

our Approach to it, on the Seas round it, the Harbour, Produce of the

Island and Seasons, Way of Living among the Inhabitants, some Custom of the

Negroes, with such proper Deductions on each as may illustrate the

Description, and inform the Reader.

We were bound hither from _Whydah_, at the latter Part of the Month _July_,

when the Rains are over, and the Winds hang altogether S. W. (as they do

before the Rains, S. E.) yet with this Wind (when at Sea) we found the Ship

gained unexpectedly so far to the Southward, (_i. e._ Windward,) that we

could with ease have weathered any of the Islands, and this seems next to

impossible should be, if the Currents, which were strong to Leeward, in the

Road of _Whydah_, had extended in like Manner cross the Bite of _Benin_:

No, it must then have been very difficult to have weathered even Cape

_Formosa_: On this Occasion, I shall farther expatiate upon the Currents on

the whole Coast of _Guiney_.

The Southern Coast of _Africa_ runs in a Line of Latitude, the Northern on

an Eastern Line, but both strait, with the fewest Inlets, Gulphs or Bays,

of either of the four Continents; the only large and remarkable one, is

that of _Benin_ and _Calabar_, towards which the Currents of each Coast

tend, and is strongest from the Southward, because more open to a larger

Sea, whose rising it is (tho' little and indiscernable at any Distance from

the Land,) that gives rise to these Currents close in Shore, which are

nothing but Tides altered and disturbed by the Make and Shape of Lands.

For Proof of this, I shall lay down the following Observations as certain

Facts. That in the Rivers of _Gambia_ and _Sierraleon_, in the Straits and

Channels of _Benin_, and in general along the whole Coast, the Flowings are

regular on the Shores, with this Difference; that, in the abovemention'd

Rivers, and in the Channels of _Benin_, where the Shore contract the Waters

into a narrow Compass, the Tides are strong and high, as well as regular;

but on the dead Coast, where it makes an equal Reverberation, slow and low,

(not to above two or three Foot,) increasing as you advance towards

_Benin_; and this is farther evident in that at Cape _Corso, Succonda_ and

_Commenda_, and where the Land rounds and gives any Stop, the Tides flow

regularly to four Foot and upwards; when on an evener Coast, (tho' next

adjoining,) they shall not exceed two or three Foot; and ten Leagues out at

Sea, (where no such Interruption is,) they become scarcely, if at all,

perceptible.

What I would deduce from this, besides a Confirmation of that ingenious

Theory of the Tides, by Captain _Halley_; is first, that the Ships bound to

_Angola, Cabenda_, and other Places on the Southern Coast of _Africa_,

should cross the _Æquinoctial_ from Cape _Palmas_, and run into a Southern

Latitude, without keeping too far to the Westward; and the Reason seems

plain, for if you endeavour to cross it about the Islands, you meet Calms,

southerly Winds and opposite Currents; and if too far to the Westward, the

trade Winds are strong and unfavourable; for it obliges you to stand into

28 or 30° Southern Latitude, till they are variable.

Secondly, On the Northern Side of _Guiney_, if Ships are bound from the

_Gold-Coast_ to _Sierraleon, Gambia_, or elsewhere to Windward, considering

the Weakness of these Currents, and the Favourableness of Land Breezes, and

Southerly in the Rains, Turnadoes, and even of the Trade Wind, when

a-breast of Cape _Palmas_, it is more expeditious to pursue the Passage

this Way, than by a long perambulatory Course of 4 or 500 Leagues to the

Westward, and as many more to the Northward, which must be before a Wind

can be obtained, that could recover the Coast.

Lastly, it is, in a great Measure, owning to this want of Inlets, and the

Rivers being small and unnavigable, that the Seas rebound with so dangerous

a Surff thro' the whole Continent.

Round the Shores of this Island, and at this Season, _(July, August_ and

_September_,) there is a great Resort of Whale-Fish, tame, and sporting

very nigh the Ships as they sail in, always in Pairs, the Female much the

smaller, and often seen to turn on their Backs for Dalliance, the Prologue

to engendring: It has an Enemy, called the Thresher, a large Fish too, that

has its Haunts here at this Season, and encounters the Whale, raising

himself out of the Water a considerable Heighth, and falling again with

great Weight and Force; it is commonly said also, that there is a Sword

Fish in these Battles, who pricks the Whale up to the Surface again, but

without this, I believe, he would suffocate when put to quick Motions,

unless frequently approaching the Air, to ventilate and remove the

impediments to a swifter Circulation: Nor do I think he is battled for

Prey, but to remove him from what is perhaps the Food of both. The Number

of Whales here has put me sometimes on thinking an advantageous Fishery

might be made of it, but I presume they (no more than those of _Brasil)_

are the Sort which yield the profitable Part, called Whale-Bone: All

therefore that the Islanders do, is now and then to go out with two or

three Canoes, and set on one for Diversion.

The Rocks and outer Lines of the Island, are the Haunts of variety of

Sea-Birds, especially Boobies and Noddies; the former are of the Bigness of

a Gull, and a dark Colour, named so from their Simplicity, because they

often sit still and let the Sailors take them up in their Hands; but I

fancy this succeeds more frequently from their Weariness, and the Largeness

of their Wings, which, when they once have rested, cannot have the Scope

necessary to raise and float them on the Air again. The Noddies are smaller

and flat footed also.

What I would remark more of them, is, the admirable Instinct in these

Birds, for the proper Seasons, and the proper Places for Support. In the

aforemention'd Months, when the large Fish were here, numerous Flocks of

Fowl attend for the Spawn and Superfluity of their Nourishment; and in

_January_ few of either; for the same Reason, there are scarce any Sea Fowl

seen on the _African_ Coast; Rocks and Islands being generally their best

Security and Subsistance.

The Harbour of _Princes_ is at the E. S. E. Point of the Island; the

North-Side has gradual Soundings, but here deep Water, having no Ground at

a Mile off with 140 Fathom of Line. The Port (when in) is a smooth narrow

Bay, safe from Winds, (unless a little Swell when Southerly) and draughted

into other smaller and sandy Ones, convenient for raising of Tents,

Watering, and hawling the Seam; the whole protected by a Fort, or rather

Battery, of a dozen Guns on the Larboard-Side. At the Head of the Bay

stands the Town, about a Mile from the anchoring Place, and consists of two

or three regular Streets, of wooden built Houses, where the Governor and

chief Men of the Island reside. Here the Water grows shallow for a

considerable Distance, and the Natives, at every Ebb, (having before

encompassed every convenient Angle with a Rise of Stones, something like

Weirs in _England_) resort for catching of Fish, which, with them, is a

daily Diversion, as well as Subsistance, 500 attending with Sticks and

wicker Baskets; and if they cannot dip them with one Hand, they knock them

down with the other. The Tides rise regularly 6 Foot in the Harbour, and

yet not half that Heighth without the Capes that make the Bay.

Here are constantly two Missionaries, who are sent for six Years to

inculcate the Christian Principles, and more especially attend the

Conversion of the Negroes; the present are _Venetians_, ingenious Men, who

seem to despise the loose Morals and Behaviour of the Seculars, and

complain of them as of the Slaves, _ut Color Mores sunt nigri_. They have a

neat Conventual-House and a Garden appropriated, which, by their own

Industry and Labour, not only thrives with the several Natives of the Soil,

but many Exoticks and Curiosities. A Fruit in particular, larger than a

Chesnut, yellow, containing two Stones, with a Pulp, or clammy Substance

about them, which, when suck'd, exceeds in Sweetness, Sugar or Honey, and

has this Property beyond them, of giving a sweet Taste to every Liquid you

swallow for the whole Evening after. The only Plague infesting the Garden,

is a Vermin called Land-Crabs, in vast Numbers, of a bright red Colour, (in

other Respects like the Sea ones) which burrough in these sandy Soils like

Rabbets, and are as shy.

The Island is a pleasant Intermixture of Hill and Valley; the Hills spread

with Palms, Coco-Nuts, and Cotton-Trees, with Numbers of Monkeys and

Parrots among them; the Valleys with fruitful Plantations of _Yamms,

Kulalu, Papas_, Variety of Sallating, _Ananas_, or Pine-Apples, _Guavas,

Plantanes, Bonanas, Manyocos_, and _Indian_ Corn; with Fowls, _Guinea_

Hens, _Muscovy_ Ducks, Goats, Hogs, Turkies, and wild Beefs, with each a

little Village of Negroes, who, under the Direction of their several

Masters, manage the Cultivation, and exchange or sell them for Money, much

after the same Rates with the People of St. _Thome_.

I shall run a Description of the Vegetables, with their Properties, not

only because they are the Produce of this Island, but most of them of

_Africa_ in general.

The Palm-Trees are numerous on the Shores of _Africa_, and may be reckoned

the first of their natural Curiosities, in that they afford them Meat,

Drink and Cloathing; they grow very straight to 40 and 50 Foot high, and at

the top (only) have 3 or 4 Circles of Branches, that spread and make a

capacious Umbrella. The Trunk is very rough with Knobs, either

Excrescencies, or the Healings of those Branches that were lopped off to

forward the Growth of the Tree, and make it answer better in its Fruit. The

Branches are strongly tied together with a _Cortex_, which may be

unravelled to a considerable Length and Breadth; the inward _Lamella_ of

this _Cortex_, I know are wove like a Cloath at _Benin_, and afterwards

died and worn: Under the Branches, and close to the Body of the Tree, hang

the Nuts, thirty Bunches perhaps on a Tree, and each of thirty Pound

Weight, with prickly Films from between them, not unresembling Hedge-Hogs;

of these Nuts comes a liquid and pleasant scented Oyl, used as Food and

Sauce all over the Coast, but chiefly in the Windward Parts of _Africa_,

where they stamp, boil and skim it off in great Quantities; underneath,

where the Branches fasten, they tap for Wine, called _Cockra_, in this

Manner; the Negroes who are mostly limber active Fellows, encompass

themselves and the Trees with a Hoop of strong With, and run up with a

great deal of Agility; at the Bottom of a Branch of Nuts, he makes an

Excavation of an Inch and a half over, and tying fast his Calabash, leaves

it to destil, which it does to two or three Quarts in a Night's Time, when

done he plugs it up, and chooses another; for if suffered to run too much,

or in the Day Time, the Sap is unwarily exhausted, and the Tree spoiled:

The Liquor thus drawn, is of a wheyish Colour, intoxicating and sours in 24

Hours, but when new drawn, is _pleasantest to thirst and hunger both_: It

is from these Wines they draw their Arack in _India_. On the very Top of

the Palm, grows a Cabbage, called so, I believe, from some resemblance its

Tast is thought to have with ours, and is used like it; the Covering has a

Down that makes the best of Tinder, and the Weavings of other Parts are

drawn out into strong Threads.

_Coco-Nut-Trees_ are branch'd like, but not so tall as, _Palm_ Trees, the

Nut like them, growing under the Branches, and close to the Trunk; the

milky Liquor they contain, (to half a Pint or more,) is often drank to

quench Thirst, but surfeiting, and this may be observed in their Way of

Nourishment, that when the Quantity of Milk is large, the Shell and Meat

are very thin, and harden and thicken in Proportion, as that loses.

_Cotton_ Trees also are the Growth of all Parts of _Africk_, as well as the

Islands, of vast Bigness, yet not so incremental as the Shrubs or Bushes of

five or six Foot high; these bear a Fruit (if it may be so called) about

the Bigness of Pigeons Eggs, which as the Sun swells and ripens, bursts

forth and discovers three Cells loaded with Cotton, and Seeds in the Middle

of them: This in most Parts the Negroes know how to spin, and here at

_Nicongo_ and the Island St. _Jago_, how to weave into Cloths.

_Yamms_ are a common Root, sweeter but not unlike Potato's: _Kulalu_, a

Herb like Spinnage: _Papa_, a Fruit less than the smallest Pumkins; they

are all three for boiling, and to be eat with Meat; the latter are improved

by the _English_ into a Turnip or an Apple Tast, with a due Mixture of

Butter or Limes.

_Guava's_, a Fruit as large as a Pipin, with Seeds and Stones in it, of an

uncouth astringing Tast, tho' never so much be said in Commendation of it,

at the _West-Indies_, it is common for _Cræolians_, (who has tasted both,)

to give it a Preference to Peach or Nectarine, no amazing Thing when Men

whose Tasts are so degenerated, as to prefer a Toad in a Shell, (as _Ward_

calls Turtle,) to Venison, and Negroes to fine _English_ Ladies.

_Plantanes_ and _Bonano's_ are Fruit of oblong Figure, that I think differ

only _secundum Major & Minus_, if any, the latter are preferable, and by

being less, are juicier; they are usually, when stripped of their Coat, eat

at Meals instead of Bread: The Leaf of this Plantane is an admirable

Detergent, and, externally applied, I have seen cure the most obstinate

scorbutick Ulcers.

_Manyoco_. A Root that shoots its Branches about the heighth of a Currant

Bush; from this Root the Islanders make a Farine or Flower, which they sell

at three Ryals a Roove, and drive a considerable Trade for it with the

Ships that call in. The manner of making it, is first to press the Juice

from it, (which is poisonous) done here with Engines, and then the Negroe

Women, upon a rough Stone, rub it into a granulated Flower, reserved in

their Houses, either to boil, as we do our Wheat, and is a hearty Food for

the Slaves; or make it into a Bread, fine, white, and well tasted, for

themselves. One thing worth taking Notice about _Manyoco_ in this Island,

is, that the Woods abound with a wild poisonous and more mortiferous Sort,

which sometimes Men, unskilled in the Preparation of it, feed on to their

Destruction: This the Missionaries assured me they often experimented in

their Hogs, and believed we did in the Mortality of our Sailors.

_Indian Corn_, is likewise as well as the _Farine de Manyoco_ and Rice, the

common Victualling of our Slave Ships, and is afforded here at 1000 Heads

for two Dollars. This Corn grows eight or nine Foot high, on a hard Reed or

Stick, shooting forth at every six Inches Heighth, some long Leaves; it has

always an Ear, or rather Head, at top, of, perhaps, 400 Fold Increase; and

often two, three, or more, Midway.

Here are some Tamarind Trees; another called _Cola_, whose Fruit, or Nut

(about twice the Bigness of a Chestnut, and bitter) is chewed by the

_Portugueze_, to give a sweet Gust to their Water which they drink; but

above all, I was shewn the Bark of one (whose Name I do not know) gravely

affirm'd to have a peculiar Property of enlarging the Virile Member; I am

not fond of such Conceits, nor believe it in the Power of any Vegetables,

but must acknowledge, I have seen Sights of this kind among the Negroes

very extraordinary; yet, that there may be no Wishes among the Ladies for

the Importation of this Bark, I must acquaint them, that they are found to

grow less merry, as they encrease in Bulk. I had like to have forgot their

Cinnamon Trees; there is only one Walk of them, and is the Entrance of the

Governor's Villa; they thrive extreemly well, and the Bark not inferior to

our Cinnamon from _India_; why they and other Spice, in a Soil so proper,

receive no farther Cultivation, is, probably, their Suspicion, that so rich

a Produce, might make some potent Neighbour take a Fancy to the Island.

They have two Winters, or rather Springs, and two Summers: Their Winters,

which are the rainy Seasons, come in _September_ and _February_, or

_March_, and hold two Months, returning that Fatness and generative Power

to the Earth, as makes it yield a double Crop every Year, with little Sweat

or Labour.

_Hic Ver Assiduum atque Alienis Mensibus Æstas --Bis gravidæ

Pecudes, bis Pomis utilis arbos_.

Their first coming is with _Travado_'s, _i. e._ sudden and hard Gusts of

Wind, with Thunder, Lightning and heavy Showers, but short; and the next

new or full Moon at those Times of the Year, infallibly introduces the

Rains, which once begun, fall with little Intermission, and are observed

coldest in _February_. Similar to these are rainy Seasons also over all the

Coast of _Africa_: If there may be allowed any general Way of calculating

their Time, they happen from the Course of the Sun, as it respects the

_Æquinoctial_ only; for if these _Æquinoxes_ prove rainy Seasons all over

the World (as I am apt to think they are) whatever secret Cause operates

with that Station of the Sun to produce them, will more effectually do it

in those vicine Latitudes; and therefore, as the Sun advances, the Rains

are brought on the _Whydah_ and Gold Coast, by _April_, and on the

Windwardmost Part of _Guiney_ by _May_: The other Season of the Sun's

returning to the Southward, make them more uncertain and irregular in

Northern _Africa_; but then to the Southward again, they proceed in like

manner, and are at Cape _Lopez_ in _October_, at _Angola_ in _November_,

&c.

The Manner of living among the _Portugueze_ here is, with the utmost

Frugality and Temperance, even to Penury and Starving; a familiar Instance

of Proof is, in the Voracity of their Dogs, who finding such clean

Cupboards at home, are wild in a manner with Hunger, and tare up the Graves

of the Dead for Food, as I have often seen: They themselves are lean with

Covetousness, and that Christian Vertue, which is often the Result of it,

Selfdenyal; and would train up their Cattle in the same way, could they

fetch as much Money, or had not they their Provision more immediately of

Providence. The best of them (excepting the Governor now and then) neither

pay nor receive any Visits of Escapade or Recreation; they meet and sit

down at each others Doors in the Street every Evening, and as few of them,

in so small an Island, can have their Plantations at any greater Distance,

than that they may see it every Day if they will, so the Subject of their

Talk is mostly how Affairs went there, with their Negroes, or their Ground,

and then part with one another innocently, but empty.

The Negroes have yet no hard Duty with them, they are rather Happy in

Slavery; for as their Food is chiefly Vegetables, that could no way else be

expended, there is no Murmurs bred on that account; and as their Business

is Domestick, either in the Services of the House, or in Gardening, Sowing,

or Planting, they have no more than what every Man would prefer for Health

and Pleasure; the hardest of their Work is the Carriage of their Pateroons,

or their Wives, to and from the Plantations; this they do in Hammocks

(call'd at _Whydah, Serpentines_) slung cross a Pole, with a Cloath over,

to screen the Person, so carried, from Sun and Weather, and the Slaves are

at each End; and yet even this, methinks, is better than the specious

Liberty a Man has for himself and his Heirs to work in a Coal Mine.

The Negroes are, most of them, thro' the Care of their Patroons,

Christians, at least nominal, but excepting to some few, they adhere still

to many silly Pagan Customs in their Mournings and Rejoycings, and in some

Measure, powerful Majority has introduced them with the Vulgar of the

_Mulatto_ and _Portugueze_ Race.

If a Person die in that Colour, the Relations and Friends of him meet at

the House, where the Corpse is laid out decently on the Ground and covered

(all except the Face) with a Sheet; they sit round it, crying and howling

dreadfully, not unlike what our Countrymen are said to do in _Ireland_:

This Mourning lasts for eight Days and Nights, but not equally intense, for

as the Friends, who compose the Chorus, go out and in, are weary, and

unequally affected, the Tone lessens daily, and the Intervals of Grief are

longer.

In Rejoycings and Festivals they are equally ridiculous; these are commonly

made on some Friend's Escape from Shipwreck, or other Danger: They meet in

a large Room of the House, with a Strum Strum, to which one of the Company,

perhaps, sings wofully; the rest standing round the Room close to the

Petitions, take it in their Turns (one or two at a time) to step round,

called Dancing, the whole clapping their Hands continually, and hooping out

every Minute _Abeo_, which signify no more, than, _how do you_. And this

foolish Mirth will continue three or four Days together at a House, and

perhaps twelve or sixteen Hours at a time.

The _Portugueze_, tho' eminently abstemious and temperate in all other

Things, are unbounded in their Lusts; and perhaps they substitute the

former in room of a Surgeon, as a Counterpoison to the Mischiefs of a

promiscuous Salacity: They have most of them Venereal Taints, and with Age

become meager and hectick: I saw two Instances here of Venereal Ulcers that

had cancerated to the Bowels, Spectacles that would have effectually

perswaded Men (I think) how Salutary the Restriction of Laws are.

_Annobono_ is the last, and of the least Consequence of the three Islands;

there are Plenty of Fruits and Provisions, exchanged to Ships for old

Cloaths and Trifles of any Sort; they have a Governor nominated from St.

_Thome_, and two or three Priests, neither of which are minded, every one

living at Discretion, and fill'd with Ignorance and Lust.

* * *

To return to _Davis_, the next Day after he left _Anamaboe_, early in the

Morning, the Man at the Mast-Head espied a Sail. It must be observed, they

keep a good Look-out; for, according to their Articles, he who first espies

a Sail, if she proves a Prize, is entitled to the best Pair of Pistols on

Board, over and above his Dividend, in which they take a singular Pride;

and a Pair of Pistols has sometimes been sold for thirty Pounds, from one

to another.

Immediately they gave Chace, and soon came up with her; the Ship proved to

be a _Hollander_, and being betwixt _Davis_ and the Shore, she made all the

Sail she could, intending to run aground; _Davis_ guessed her Design, and

putting out all his small Sails, came up with her before she could effect

it, and fired a Broad-side, upon which she immediately struck, and called

for Quarter. It was granted, for according to _Davis_'s Articles, it was

agreed, that Quarter should be given whenever it was called for, upon Pain

of Death. This Ship proved a very rich Prize, having the Governor of _Acra_

on Board, with all his Effects, going to _Holland_; there was in Money to

the Value of 15000 _l._ Sterling, besides other valuable Merchandizes, all

which they brought on Board of themselves.

Upon this new Success, they restored Captain _Hall_ and Captain _Plumb_,

before-mentioned, their Ships again, but strengthened their Company with

thirty five Hands, all white Men, taken out of these two and the _Morrice_

Sloop; they also restored the _Dutch_ their Ship, after having plunder'd

her, as is mentioned.

Before they got to the Island of _Princes_, one of their Ships, _viz._ that

call'd the _King James_, sprung a Leak; _Davis_ order'd all Hands out of

her, on Board his own Ship, with every thing else of Use, and left her at

an Anchor at _High Cameroon_. As soon as he came in Sight of the Island, he

hoisted _English_ Colours; the _Portuguese_ observing a large Ship sailing

towards them, sent out a little Sloop to examine what she might be; this

Sloop hailing of _Davis_, he told them he was an _English_ Man of War, in

Quest of Pyrates, and that he had received Intelligence there were some

upon that Coast; upon this they received him as a welcome Guest, and

piloted him into the Harbour. He saluted the Fort, which they answered, and

he came to an Anchor just under their Guns, and hoisted out the Pinnace,

Man of War Fashion, ordering nine Hands and a Coxen in it, to row him

ashore.

The _Portugueze_, to do him the greater Honour, sent down a File of

Musqueteers to receive him, and conduct him to the Governor. The Governor

not in the least suspecting what he was, received him very civilly,

promising to supply him with whatever the Island afforded; _Davis_ thanked

him, telling him, the King of _England_ would pay for whatever he should

take; so after several Civilities pass'd between him and the Governor, he

returned again on Board.

It happened a _French_ Ship came in there to supply it self with some

Necessaries, which _Davis_ took into his Head to plunder, but to give the

Thing a Colour of Right, he persuaded the _Portugueze_, that she had been

trading with the Pyrates, and that he found several Pyrates Goods on Board,

which he seized for the King's Use: This Story passed so well upon the

Governor, that he commended _Davis_'s Diligence.

A few Days after, _Davis_, with about fourteen more, went privately ashore,

and walk'd up the Country towards a Village, where the Governor and the

other chief Men of the Island kept their Wives, in tending, as we may

suppose, to supply their Husbands Places with them; but being discovered,

the Women fled to a neighbouring Wood, and _Davis_ and the rest retreated

to their Ship, without effecting their Design: The Thing made some Noise,

but as no body knew them, it passed over.

Having cleaned his Ship, and put all Things in Order, his Thoughts now were

turned upon the main Business, _viz._ the Plunder of the Island, and not

knowing where the Treasure lay, a Stratagem came into his Head, to get it

(as he thought) with little Trouble, he consulted his Men upon it, and they

liked the Design: His Scheme was, to make a Present to the Governor, of a

Dozen Negroes, by Way of Return for the Civilities received from him, and

afterwards to invite him, with the chief Men, and some of the Friers, on

Board his Ship, to an Entertainment; the Minute they came on Board, they

were to be secured in Irons, and there kept till they should pay a Ransom

of 40000 _l._ Sterling.

But this Stratagem proved fatal to him, for a _Portugueze_ Negroe swam

ashore in the Night, and discovered the whole Plot to the Governor, and

also let him know, that it was _Davis_ who had made the Attempt upon their

Wives. However, the Governor dissembled, received the Pyrates Invitation

civilly, and promised that he and the rest would go.

The next Day _Davis_ went on Shore himself, as if it were out of greater

Respect to bring the Governor on Board: He was received with the usual

Civility, and he, and other principal Pyrates, who, by the Way, had assumed

the Title of Lords, and as such took upon them to advise or councel their

Captain upon any important Occasion; and likewise held certain Priviledges,

which the common Pyrates were debarr'd from, as walking the Quarter-Deck,

using the great Cabin, going ashore at Pleasure, and treating with foreign

Powers, that is, with the Captains of Ships they made Prize of; I say,

_Davis_ and some of the Lords were desired to walk up to the Governor's

House, to take some Refreshment before they went on Board; they accepted it

without the least Suspicion, but never returned again; for an Ambuscade was

laid, a Signal being given, a whole Volley was fired upon them; they every

Man dropp'd, except one, this one fled back, and escaped into the Boat, and

got on Board the Ship: _Davis_ was shot through the Bowels, yet he rise

again, and made a weak Effort to get away, but his Strength soon forsook

him, and he dropp'd down dead; just as he fell, he perceived he was

followed, and drawing out his Pistols, fired them at his Pursuers; Thus

like a game Cock, giving a dying Blow, that he might not fall unrevenged.

CHAP. IX. OF Captain _Bartho. Roberts_, And his CREW.

B_Artholomew Roberts_ sailed in an honest Employ, from _London_

aboard of the _Princess_, Captain _Plumb_ Commander, of which Ship he was

second Mate: He left _England, November_ 1719, and arrived at _Guiney_

about _February_ following, and being at _Anamaboe_, taking in Slaves for

the _West-Indies_, was taken in the said Ship by Captain _Howel Davis_, as

mentioned in the preceeding Chapter. In the beginning he was very averse to

this sort of Life, and would certainly have escaped from them, had a fair

Opportunity presented it self; yet afterwards he changed his Principles, as

many besides him have done upon another Element, and perhaps for the same

Reason too, _viz._ Preferment,--and what he did not like as a private Man

he could reconcile to his Conscience as a Commander.

_Davis_ being cut off in the manner beforementioned, the Company found

themselves under a Necessity of filling up his Post, for which there

appear'd two or three Candidates among the select Part of them, that were

distinguish'd by the Title of Lords, such were _Sympson, Ashplant, Anstis_,

&c. and on canvassing this Matter, how shatter'd and weak a Condition their

Government must be without a Head, since _Davis_ had been remov'd, in the

manner beforemention'd, my Lord _Dennis_ propos'd, its said, over a Bowl to

this Purpose.

_That it was not of any great Signification who was dignify'd with Title;

for really and in Truth, all good Governments had_ (_like theirs_) _the

supream Power lodged with the Community, who might doubtless depute and

revoke as suited Interest or Humour. We are the Original of this Claim_

(says he) _and should a Captain be so sawcy as to exceed Prescription at

any time_, why down with Him! _it will be a Caution after he is dead to his

Successors, of what fatal Consequence any sort of assuming may be. However,

it is my Advice, that, while we are sober, we pitch upon a Man of Courage,

and skill'd in Navigation, one, who by his Council and Bravery seems best

able to defend this Commonwealth, and ward us from the Dangers and Tempests

of an instable Element, and the fatal Consequences of Anarchy; and such a

one I take_ Roberts _to be. A Fellow! I think, in all Respects, worthy your

Esteem and Favour_.

This Speech was loudly applauded by all but Lord _Sympson_, who had secret

Expectations himself, but on this Disappointment, grew sullen, and left

them, swearing, _he did not care who they chose Captain, so it was not a

Papist, for against them he had conceiv'd an irreconcileable Hatred, for

that his Father had been a Sufferer in_ Monmouth_'s Rebellion_.

_Roberts_ was accordingly elected, tho' he had not been above six Weeks

among them, the Choice was confirm'd both by the Lords and Commoners, and

he accepted of the Honour, saying, _That since he had dipp'd his Hands in

muddy Water, and must be a Pyrate, it was better being a Commander than a

common Man_.

As soon as the Government was settled, by promoting other Officers in the

room of those that were kill'd by the _Portugueze_, the Company resolv'd to

revenge Captain _Davis_'s Death, he being more than ordinarily respected by

the Crew for his Affability and good Nature, as well as his Conduct and

Bravery upon all Occasions; and pursuant to this Resolution, about 30 Men

were landed in order to make an Attack upon the Fort, which must be

ascended to by a steep Hill against the Mouth of the Cannon. These Men were

headed by one _Kennedy_, a bold daring Fellow, but very wicked and

profligate; they march'd directly up under the Fire of their Ship Guns, and

as soon as they were discover'd, the _Portugueze_ quitted their Post and

fled to the Town, and the Pyrates march'd in without Opposition, set Fire

to the Fort, and threw all the Guns off the Hill into the Sea, which after

they had done, they retreated quietly to their Ship.

But this was not look'd upon as a sufficient Satisfaction for the Injury

they received, therefore most of the Company were for burning the Town,

which _Roberts_ said he would yield to, if any Means could be proposed of

doing it without their own Destruction, for the Town had a securer

Scituation than the Fort, a thick Wood coming almost close to it, affording

Cover to the Defendants, who under such an Advantage, he told them, it was

to be fear'd, would fire and stand better to their Arms; besides, that bare

Houses would be but a slender Reward for their Trouble and Loss. This

prudent Advice prevailed; however, they mounted the _French_ Ship, they

seiz'd at this Place, with 12 Guns, and light'ned her, in order to come up

to the Town, the Water being shoal, and battered down several Houses; after

which they all returned on Board, gave back the _French_ Ship to those that

had most Right to her, and sailed out of the Harbour by the light of two

_Portuguese_ Ships, which they were pleased to set on Fire there.

_Roberts_ stood away to the Southward, and met with a _Dutch Guiney_ Man,

which he made Prize of, but after having plundered her, the Skipper had his

Ship again: Two Days after, he took an _English_ Ship, called the

_Experiment_, Captain _Cornet_, at _Cape Lopez_, the Men went all into the

Pyrate Service, and having no Occasion for the Ship, they burnt her, and

then steered for St. _Thome_, but meeting with nothing in their Way, they

sailed for _Annabona_, and there water'd, took in Provisions, and put it to

a Vote of the Company, whether their next Voyage should be, to the

_East-Indies_, or to _Brasil_; the latter being resolved on, they sailed

accordingly, and in 28 Days arrived at _Ferdinando_, an uninhabited Island,

on that Coast: Here they water'd, boot-top'd their Ship, and made ready for

the designed Cruise.

Now that we are upon this Coast, I think it will be the proper Place to

present our Readers with a Description of this Country, and some ingenious

Remarks of a Friend, how beneficial a Trade might be carried on here by our

_West-India_ Merchants, at a little Hazard.

A DESCRIPTION OF _BRASIL_, &c.

B_RASIL_ (a Name signifying the holy Cross) was discovered for the

King of _Portugal_, by _Alvarez Cabral, Ann. Dom._ 1501. extending almost

from the _Æquinoctial_ to 28° South. The Air is temperate and cool, in

comparison of the _West-Indies_, from stronger Breezes and an opener

Country, which gives less Interruption to the Winds.

The northernmost Part of it stretching about 180 Leagues, (a fine fertile

Country,) was taken from the _Portuguese_ by the _Dutch West-India_

Company, _Anno._ 1637 or thereabouts; but the Conquerors, as is natural

where there is little or no Religion subsisting, made such heavy Exactions

on the _Portuguese_, and extended such Cruelty to the Natives, that

prepared them both easily to unite for a Revolt, facilitated by the _Dutch_

Mismanagement: For the States being at this Time very intent on their

_India_ Settlements, not only recalled Count _Morrice_ their Governor, but

neglected Supplies to their Garrisons; however, tho' the others were

countenanced with a Fleet from _Portugal_, and had the Affection of the

Natives, yet they found Means to withstand and struggle with this superior

Power, from 1643 to 1660, and then was wholly abandoned by them, on

Articles dishonourable to the _Portuguese_, viz.

That the _Dutch_, on Relinquishing, should keep all the Places they had

conquered in _India_ from _Portugal_. That they should pay the States

800000 _l._ and permit them still the Liberty of Trade to _Africa_ and

_Brasil_, on the same Custom and Duties with the King of _Portugal_'s

Subjects. But since that Time, new Stipulations and Treaties have been

made; wherein the _Dutch_, who have been totally excluded the _Brasil_

Trade, have, in lieu thereof, a Composition of 10 _per Cent_. for the

Liberty of trading to _Africa_; and this is always left by every

_Portuguese_ Ship (before she begins her Slaving) with the _Dutch_ General

of the _Gold-Coast_, at _Des Minas_.

There are only three principal Towns of Trade on the _Brasil_ Coast, St.

_Salvadore_, St. _Sebastian_, and _Pernambuca_.

St. _Salvadore_ in the _Bahia los todos Santos_, is an Archbishoprick and

Seat of the Viceroy, the chief Port of Trade for Importation, where most of

the Gold from the Mines is lodged, and whence the Fleets for _Europe_

generally depart. The Seas about it abound with Whale-Fish, which in the

Season they catch in great Numbers; the Flesh is salted up generally to be

the Victualling of their Slave-Ships, and the Train reserved for

Exportation, at 30 and 35 Millrays a Pipe.

_Rio Janeiro (_the Town St. _Sebastian)_ is the Southernmost of the

_Portuguese_, the worst provided of Necessaries, but commodious for a

Settlement, because nigh the Mine, and convenient to supervise the Slaves,

who, as I have been told, do usually allow their Master a Dollar _per

Diem_, and have the Overplus of their Work (if any) to themselves.

The Gold from hence is esteemed the best, (for being of a copperish

Colour,) and they have a Mint to run it into Coin, both here and at

_Bahia_; the Moidors of either having the initial Letters of each Place

upon them.

_Pernambuca_ (tho' mention'd last) is the second in Dignity, a large and

populous Town, and has its rise from the Ruins of _Olinda_, (or the

handsome,) a City of a far pleasanter Situation, six Miles up the River,

but not so commodious for Traffick and Commerce. Just above the Town the

River divides it self into two Branches, not running directly into the Sea,

but to the Southward; and in the Nook of the Island made by that Division,

stands the Governor's House, a square plain Building of Prince _Maurice_'s,

with two Towers, on which are only this Date inscribed, _Anno_ 1641. The

Avenues to it are every way pleasant, thro' Visto's of tall Coco-Nut Trees.

Over each Branch of the River is a Bridge; that leading to the Country is

all of Timber, but the other to the Town (of twenty six or twenty eight

Arches) is half of Stone, made by the _Dutch_, who in their Time had little

Shops and gaming Houses on each Side for Recreation.

The Pavements also of the Town are in some Places of broad Tiles, the

remaining Fragments of their Conquest. The Town has the outer Branch of the

River behind it, and the Harbour before it, jetting into which latter are

close Keys for the weighing and receiving of Customage on Merchandize, and

for the meeting and conferring of Merchants and Traders. The Houses are

strong built, but homely, letticed like those of _Lisbon_, for the

Admission of Air, without Closets, and what is worse, Hearths; which makes

their Cookery consist all in frying and stewing upon Stoves; and that they

do till the Flesh become tender enough to shake it to Pieces, and one Knife

is then thought sufficient to serve a Table of half a Score.

The greatest Inconvenience of _Pernambuca_ is, that there is not one

Publick-House in it; so that Strangers are obliged to hire any ordinary one

they can get, at a Guinea a Month: And others who come to transact Affairs

of Importance, must come recommended, if it were only for the sake of

Privacy.

The Market is stocked well enough, Beef being at five Farthings _per l_. a

Sheep or Goat at nine Shillings, a Turkey four Shillings, and Fowls two

Shillings, the largest I ever saw, and may be procured much Cheaper, by

hiring a Man to fetch them out of the Country. The dearest in its kind is

Water, which being fetch'd in Vessels from _Olinda_, will not be put on

Board in the Road under two Crusado's a Pipe.

The _Portuguese_ here are darker than those of _Europe_, not only from a

warmer Climate, but their many Intermarriages with the Negroes, who are

numerous there, and some of them of good Credit and Circumstances. The

Women (not unlike the Mulatto Generation every where else) are fond of

Strangers; not only the Courtezans, whose Interest may be supposed to wind

up their Affections, but also the marryed Women who think themselves

obliged, when you favour them with the Secrecy of an Appointment; but the

Unhappiness of pursuing Amours, is, that the generallity of both Sexes are

touched with veneral Taints, without so much as one Surgeon among them, or

any Body skilled in Physick, to cure or palliate the progressive Mischief:

The only Person pretending that Way, is an _Irish_ Father, whose Knowledge

is all comprehended in the Virtues of two or three Simples, and those, with

the Salubrity of the Air and Temperance, is what they depend on, for

subduing the worst of Malignity; and it may not be unworthy Notice, that

tho' few are exempted from the Misfortune of a Running, Eruptions, or the

like, yet I could hear of none precipitated into those deplorable

Circumstances we see common in unskillful mercurial Processes.

There are three Monasteries, and about six Churches, none of them Rich or

Magnificent, unless one dedicated to St. _Antonio_, the Patron of their

Kingdom, which shines all over with exquisite Pieces of Paint and Gold.

The Export of _Brasil_ (besides Gold) is chiefly Sugars and Tobacco; the

latter are sent off in Rowls of a Quintal Weight, kept continually

moistened with Mulossus, which, with the Soil it springs from, imparts a

strong and peculiar Scent, more sensible in the Snuff made from it, which

tho' under Prohibition of importing to _Lisbon_, sells here at 2 _s. per

l_. as the Tobacco does at about 6 Millraies a Rowl. The finest of their

Sugars sells at 8 _s. per_ Roove, and a small ill tasted Rum drawn from the

Dregs and Mulossus, at two Testunes a Gallon.

Besides these, they send off great Quantities of Brasil Wood, and Whale

Oyl, some Gums and Parrots, the latter are different from the _African_ in

Colour and Bigness, for as they are blue and larger, these are green and

smaller; and the Females of them ever retain the wild Note, and cannot be

brought to talk.

In lieu of this Produce, the _Portugueze_, once every Year by their Fleet

from _Lisbon_, import all manner of European Commodities; and whoever is

unable or negligent of supplying himself at that Season, buys at a very

advanced Rate, before the Return of another.

To transport Passengers, Slaves, or Merchandize from one Settlement to

another, or in Fishing; they make use of Bark-Logs, by the _Brasilians_

called _Jingadahs_: They are made of four Pieces of Timber (the two

outermost longest) pinned and fastened together, and sharpened at the Ends:

Towards each Extremity a Stool is fixed to sit on for paddling, or holding

by, when the Agitation is more than ordinary; with these odd sort of

Engines, continually washed over by the Water, do these People, with a

little triangular Sail spreeted about the Middle of it, venture out of

Sight of Land, and along the Coasts for many Leagues, in any sort of

Weather; and if they overset with a Squall (which is not uncommon) they

swim and presently turn it up right again.

The Natives are of the darkest Copper Colour, with thin Hair, of a square

strong make, and muscular; but not so well looking as the Wooley

Generation: They acquiesce patiently to the _Portugueze_ Government, who

use them much more humanly and Christian-like than the _Dutch_ did, and by

that Means have extended Quietness and Peace, as well as their Possessions,

three or four hundred Miles into the Country. A Country abounding with fine

Pastures and numerous Herds of Cattle, and yields a vast Increase from

every thing that is sown: Hence they bring down to us Parrots, small

Monkies, Armadillos and Sanguins, and I have been assured, they have, (far

In-land,) a Serpent of a vast Magnitude, called _Siboya_, able, they say,

to swallow a whole Sheep; I have seen my self here the Skin of another

Specie full six Yards long, and therefore think the Story not improbable.

The Harbour of _Pernambuca_ is, perhaps, singular, it is made of a Ledge of

Rocks, half a Cables length from the Main, and but little above the Surface

of the Water, running at that equal Distance and Heighth several Leagues,

towards Cape _Augustine_, a Harbour running between them capable of

receiving Ships of the greatest Burthen: The Northermost End of this Wall

of Rock, is higher than any Part of the contiguous Line, on which a little

Fort is built, commanding the Passage either of Boat or Ship, as they come

over the Bar into the Harbour: On the Starboard Side, (_i. e._ the Main)

after you have entered a little way, stands another Fort (a _Pentagon_)

that would prove of small Account, I imagine, against a few disciplined

Men; and yet in these consists all their Strength and Security, either for

the Harbour or Town: They have begun indeed a Wall, since their removing

from _Olinda_, designed to surround the latter; but the slow Progress they

make in raising it, leaves Room to suspect 'twill be a long time in

finishing.

The Road without, is used by the _Portugueze_, when they are nigh sailing

for _Europe_, and wait for the Convoy, or are bound to _Bahia_ to them, and

by Strangers only when Necessity compels; the best of it is in ten Fathom

Water, near three Miles W. N. W. from the Town; nigher in, is foul with the

many Anchors lost there by the _Portugueze_ Ships; and farther out (in 14

Fathom) corally and Rocky. _July_ is the worst and Winter Season of this

Coast, the Trade Winds being then very strong and dead, bringing in a

prodigious and unsafe Swell into the Road, intermixed every Day with

Squalls, Rain, and a hazey Horizon, but at other times serener Skies and

Sunshine.

In these Southern Latitudes is a Constellation, which from some Resemblance

it bears to a _Jerusalem_ Cross, has the Name of _Crosiers_, the brightest

of this Hemisphere, and are observed by, as the North Star is in Northern

Latitudes; but what I mention this for, is, to introduce the admirable

Phænomenon in these Seas of the Megellanick Clouds, whose Risings and

Sittings are so regular, that I have been assured, the same Nocturnal

Observations are made by them as by the Stars; They are two Clouds, small

and whitish, no larger in Appearance than a Man's Hat, and are seen here in

_July_ in the Latitude of 8° S. about four of the Clock in the Morning; if

their Appearance should be said to be the Reflection of Light, from some

Stellary Bodies above them, yet the Difficulty is not easily answered, how

these, beyond others, become so durable and regular in their Motions.

From these casual Observations on the Country, the Towns, Coast, and Seas

of _Brasil_, it would be an Omission to leave the Subject, without some

Essay on an interloping Slave Trade here, which none of our Countrymen are

adventurous enough to pursue, though it very probably, under a prudent

Manager, would be attended with Safety and very great Profit; and I admire

the more it is not struck at, because Ships from the Southern Coast of

_Africa_, don't lengthen the Voyage to the _West-Indies_ a great deal, by

taking a Part of _Brasil_ in their Way.

The Disadvantages the _Portugueze_ are under for purchasing Slaves, are

these, that they have very few proper Commodities for _Guiney_, and the

Gold, which was their chiefest, by an Edict in _July_ 1722, stands now

prohibited from being carried thither, so that the Ships employed therein

are few, and insufficient for the great Mortality and Call of their Mines;

besides, should they venture at breaking so destructive a Law, as the

abovementioned (as no doubt they do, or they could make little or no

Purchace) yet Gold does not raise its Value like Merchandize in travelling

(especially to _Africa_) and when the Composition with the _Dutch_ is also

paid, they may be said to buy their Negroes at almost double the Price the

_English, Dutch_, or _French_ do, which necessarily raises their Value

extravagantly at _Brasil_; (those who can purchase one, buying a certainer

Annuity than _South-Sea_ Stock.)

Thus far of the Call for Slaves at _Brasil_; I shall now consider and

obviate some Difficulties objected against any Foreigners (suppose

_English_) interposing in such a Trade, and they are some on theirs, and

some on our Side.

On their Side it is prohibited under Pain of Death, a Law less effectual to

the Prevention of it than pecuniary Mulcts would be, because a Penalty so

inadequate and disproportioned, is only _In terrorem_, and makes it

merciful in the Governor, or his Instruments, to take a Composition of

eight or ten Moidors, when any Subject is catched, and is the common Custom

so to do as often as they are found out.

On our Side it is Confiscation of what they can get, which considering,

they have no Men of War to guard the Coast, need be very little, without

supine Neglect and Carelessness.

I am a Man of War, or Privateer, and being in Want of Provisions, or in

Search of Pyrates, put in to _Pernambuca_ for Intelligence, to enable me

for the Pursuit: The Dread of Pyrates keeps every one off, till you have

first sent an Officer, with the proper Compliments to the Governor, who

immediately gives Leave for your buying every Necessary you are in want of,

provided it be with Money, and not an Exchange of Merchandize, which is

against the Laws of the Country.

On this first time of going on Shore, depends the success of the whole

Affair, and requires a cautious and discreet Management in the Person

entrusted: He will be immediately surrounded at landing with the great and

the small Rabble, to enquire who? and whence he comes? and whether bound?

_&c._ and the Men are taught to answer, from _Guiney_, denying any thing of

a Slave on Board, which are under Hatches, and make no Shew; nor need they,

for those who have Money to lay out will conclude on that themselves.

By that time the Compliment is paid to the Governor, the News has spread

all round the Town, and some Merchant addresses you, as a Stranger, to the

Civility of his House, but privately desires to know what Negroes he can

have, and what Price. A Governor may possibly use an Instrument in sifting

this, but the Appearance of the Gentleman, and the Circumstance of being so

soon engaged after leaving the other, will go a great way in forming a

Man's Judgment, and leaves him no room for the Suspicion of such a Snare;

however, to have a due Guard, Intimations will suffice, and bring him, and

Friends enough to carry off the best Part of a Cargo in two Nights time,

from 20 to 30 Moidors a Boy, and from 30 to 40 a Man Slave. The Hazard is

less at _Rio Janeiro_.

There has been another Method attempted, of settling a Correspondence with

some _Portugueze_ Merchant or two, who, as they may be certain within a

Fortnight of any Vessels arriving on their Coast with Slaves, might settle

Signals for the debarquing them at an unfrequented Part of the Coast, but

whether any Exceptions were made to the Price, or that the _Portuguese_

dread Discovery, and the severest Prosecution on so notorious a Breach of

the Law, I cannot tell but it has hither to proved abortive.

However, Stratagems laudable, and attended with Profit, at no other Hazard

(as I can perceive) then loss of Time, are worth attempting; it is what is

every Day practised with the _Spaniards_ from _Jamaica_.

* * *

Upon this Coast our Rovers cruiz'd for about nine Weeks, keeping generally

out of Sight of Land, but without seeing a Sail, which discourag'd them so,

that they determined to leave the Station, and steer for the _West-Indies_,

and in order thereto, stood in to make the Land for the taking of their

Departure, and thereby they fell in, unexpectedly, with a Fleet of 42 Sail

of _Portuguese_ Ships, off the Bay of _los todos Santos_, with all their

Lading in for _Lisbon_, several of them of good Force, who lay too waiting

for two Men of War of 70 Guns each, their Convoy. However, _Roberts_

thought it should go hard with him, but he would make up his Market among

them, and thereupon mix'd with the Fleet, and kept his Men hid till proper

Resolutions could be form'd; that done, they came close up to one of the

deepest, and ordered her to send the Master on Board quietly, threat'ning

to give them no Quarters, if any Resistance, or Signal of Distress was

made. The _Portuguese_ being surprized at these Threats, and the sudden

flourish of Cutlashes from the Pyrates, submitted without a Word, and the

Captain came on Board; _Roberts_ saluted him after a friendly manner,

telling him, that they were Gentlemen of Fortune, but that their Business

with him, was only to be informed which was the richest Ship in that Fleet;

and if he directed them right, he should be restored to his Ship without

Molestation, otherwise, he must expect immediate Death.

Whereupon this _Portuguese_ Master pointed to one of 40 Guns, and 150 Men,

a Ship of greater Force than the _Rover_, but this no Ways dismayed them,

_they were_ Portuguese, they said, and so immediately steered away for him.

When they came within Hail, the Master whom they had Prisoner, was ordered

to ask, _how Seignior Capitain did_? And to invite him on Board, _for that

he had a Matter of Consequence to impart to him_, which being done, he

returned for Answer, _That he would wait upon him presently_: But by the

Bustle that immediately followed, the Pyrates perceived, they were

discovered, and that this was only a deceitful Answer to gain Time to put

their Ship in a Posture of Defence; so without further Delay, they poured

in a Broad-Side, boarded and grapled her; the Dispute was short and warm,

wherein many of the _Portuguese_ fell, and two only of the Pyrates. By this

Time the Fleet was alarmed, Signals of Top-gallant Sheets flying, and Guns

fired, to give Notice to the Men of War, who rid still at an Anchor, and

made but scurvy hast out to their Assistance; and if what the Pyrates

themselves related, be true, the Commanders of those Ships were blameable

to the highest Degree, and unworthy the Title, or so much as the Name of

Men: For _Roberts_ finding the Prize to sail heavy, and yet resolving not

to loose her, lay by for the headmost of them _(_which much out sailed the

other) and prepared for Battle, which was ignominiously declined, tho' of

such superior Force; for not daring to venture on the Pyrate alone, he

tarried so long for his Consort as gave them both time leisurely to make

off.

They found this Ship exceeding rich, being laden chiefly with Sugar, Skins,

and Tobacco, and in Gold 40000 Moidors, besides Chains and Trinckets, of

considerable Value; particularly a Cross set with Diamonds, designed for

the King of _Portugal_; which they afterwards presented to the Governor of

_Caiana_, by whom they were obliged.

Elated with this Booty, they had nothing now to think of but some safe

Retreat, where they might give themselves up to all the Pleasures that

Luxury and Wantonness could bestow, and for the present pitch'd upon a

Place called the _Devil_'s _Islands_, in the River of _Surinam_, on the

Coast of _Caiana_, where they arrived, and found the civilest Reception

imaginable, not only from the Governor and Factory, but their Wives, who

exchanged Wares and drove a considerable Trade with them.

They seiz'd in this River a Sloop, and by her gained Intelligence, that a

Brigantine had also sailed in Company with her, from _Rhode-Island_, laden

with Provisions for the Coast. A Welcome Cargo! They growing short in the

Sea Store, and as _Sancho_ says, _No Adventures to be made without

Belly-Timber_. One Evening as they were rumaging (their Mine of Treasure)

the _Portuguese_ Prize, this expected Vessel was descry'd at Mast-Head, and

_Roberts_, imagining no Body could do the Business so well as himself,

takes 40 Men in the Sloop, and goes in pursuit of her; but a fatal Accident

followed this rash, tho' inconsiderable Adventure, for _Roberts_ thinking

of nothing less than bringing in the Brigantine that Afternoon, never

troubled his Head about the Sloop's Provision, nor inquired what there was

on Board to subsist such a Number of Men; but out he sails after his

expected Prize, which he not only lost further Sight of, but after eight

Days contending with contrary Winds and Currents, found themselves thirty

Leagues to Leeward. The Current still opposing their Endeavours, and

perceiving no Hopes of beating up to their Ship, they came to an Anchor,

and inconsiderately sent away the Boat to give the rest of the Company

Notice of their Condition, and to order the Ship to them; but too soon,

even the next Day, their Wants made them sensible of their Infatuation, for

their Water was all expended, and they had taken no thought how they should

be supply'd, till either the Ship came, or the Boat returned, which was not

likely to be under five or six Days. Here like _Tantalus_, they almost

famished in Sight of the fresh Streams and Lakes; being drove to such

Extremity at last, that they were forc'd to tare up the Floor of the Cabin,

and patch up a sort of Tub or Tray with Rope Yarns, to paddle ashore, and

fetch off immediate Supplies of Water to preserve Life.

After some Days, the long-wish'd-for Boat came back, but with the most

unwellcome News in the World, for _Kennedy_, who was Lieutenant, and left

in Absence of _Roberts_, to Command the Privateer and Prize, was gone off

with both. This was Mortification with a Vengeance, and you may imagine,

they did not depart without some hard Speeches from those that were left,

and had suffered by their Treachery: And that there need be no further

mention of this _Kennedy_, I shall leave Captain _Roberts_, for a Page or

two, with the Remains of his Crew, to vent their Wrath in a few Oaths and

Execrations, and follow the other, whom we may reckon from that Time, as

steering his Course towards _Execution Dock_.

_Kennedy_ was now chosen Captain of the revolted Crew, but could not bring

his Company to any determined Resolution; some of them were for pursuing

the old Game, but the greater Part of them seem'd to have Inclinations to

turn from those evil Courses, and get home privately, (for there was no Act

of Pardon in Force,) therefore they agreed to break up, and every Man to

shift for himself, as he should see Occasion. The first Thing they did, was

to part with the great _Portugueze_ Prize, and having the Master of the

Sloop (whose Name I think was _Cane_) aboard, who they said was a very

honest Fellow, (for he had humoured them upon every Occasion,) told them of

the Brigantine that _Roberts_ went after; and when the Pyrates first took

him, he complemented them at an odd Rate, telling them they were welcome to

his Sloop and Cargo, and wish'd that the Vessel had been larger, and the

Loading richer for their Sakes: To this good natured Man they gave the

_Portugueze_ Ship, (which was then above half loaded,) three or four

Negroes, and all his own Men, who returned Thanks to his kind Benefactors,

and departed.

Captain _Kennedy_ in the _Rover_, sailed to _Barbadoes_, near which Island,

they took a very peaceable Ship belonging to _Virginia_; the Commander was

a Quaker, whose Name was _Knot_; he had neither Pistol, Sword, nor Cutlash

on Board; and Mr. _Knot_ appearing so very passive to all they said to him,

some of them thought this a good Opportunity to go off; and accordingly

eight of the Pyrates went aboard, and he carried them safe to _Virginia_;

They made the Quaker a Present of 10 Chests of Sugar, 10 Rolls of _Brasil_

Tobacco, 30 Moidors, and some Gold-Dust, in all to the value of about 250

_l._ They also made Presents to the Sailors, some more, some less, and

lived a jovial Life all the while they were upon their Voyage, Captain

_Knot_ giving them their Way; nor indeed could he help himself, unless he

had taken an Opportunity to surprize them, when they were either drunk or

asleep; for awake they wore Arms aboard the Ship, and put him in a

continual Terror; it not being his Principle (or the Sect's) to fight,

unless with Art and Collusion; he managed these Weapons well till he

arrived at the Capes, and afterwards four of the Pyrates went off in a

Boat, which they had taken with them, for the more easily making their

Escapes, and made up the Bay towards _Maryland_, but were forced back by a

Storm into an obscure Place of the Country, where meeting with good

Entertainment among the Planters, they continued several Days without being

discovered to be Pyrates. In the mean Time Captain _Knot_ leaving four

others on Board his Ship, (who intended to go to _North-Carolina_,) made

what hast he could to discover to Mr. _Spotswood_ the Governor, what sort

of Passengers he had been forced to bring with him, who by good Fortune got

them seized; and Search being made after the others, who were revelling

about the Country, they were also taken, and all try'd, convicted and

hang'd, two _Portuguese_ Jews who were taken on the Coast of _Brasil_, and

whom they brought with them to _Virginia_, being the principal Evidences.

The latter had found Means to lodge Part of their Wealth with the Planters,

who never brought it to Account: But Captain _Knot_ surrendered up every

Thing that belonged to them, that were taken aboard, even what they

presented to him, in lieu of such Things as they had plundered him of in

their Passage, and obliged his Men to do the like.

Some Days after the taking of the _Virginia_ Man last mentioned, in

cruising in the Latitude of _Jamaica, Kennedy_ took a Sloop bound thither

from _Boston_, loaded with Bread and Flower; aboard of this Sloop went all

the Hands who were for breaking the Gang, and left those behind that had a

Mind to pursue further Adventures. Among the former were _Kennedy_, their

Captain, of whose Honour they had such a dispicable Notion, that they were

about to throw him over-board, when they found him in the Sloop, as fearing

he might betray them all, at their return to _England_; he having in his

Childhood been bred a Pick-pocket, and before he became a Pyrate, a

House-breaker; both Professions that these Gentlemen have a very mean

Opinion of. However, Captain _Kennedy_, by taking solemn Oaths of Fidelity

to his Companions, was suffered to proceed with them.

In this Company there was but one that pretended to any skill in

Navigation, (for _Kennedy_ could neither write nor read, he being preferred

to the Command merely for his Courage, which indeed he had often

signaliz'd, particularly in taking the _Portuguese_ Ship,) and he proved to

be a Pretender only; for shaping their Course to _Ireland_, where they

agreed to land, they ran away to the North-West Coast of _Scotland_, and

there were tost about by hard Storms of Wind for several Days, without

knowing where they were, and in great Danger of perishing: At length they

pushed the Vessel into a little Creek, and went all ashore, leaving the

Sloop at an Anchor for the next Comers.

The whole Company refresh'd themselves at a little Village about five Miles

from the Place where they left the Sloop, and passed there for Ship-wreck'd

Sailors, and no doubt might have travelled on without Suspicion; but the

mad and riotous Manner of their Living on the Road, occasion'd their

Journey to be cut short, as we shall observe presently.

_Kennedy_ and another left them here, and travelling to one of the

Sea-Ports, ship'd themselves for _Ireland_, and arrived there in Safety.

Six or seven wisely withdrew from the rest, travelled at their leasure, and

got to their much desired Port of _London_, without being disturbed or

suspected; but the main Gang alarm'd the Country where-ever they came,

drinking and roaring at such a Rate, that the People shut themselves up in

their Houses, in some Places, not daring to venture out among so many mad

Fellows: In other Villages, they treated the whole Town, squandering their

Money away, as if, like _Æsop_, they wanted to lighten their Burthens: This

expensive manner of Living procured two of their drunken Straglers to be

knocked on the Head, they being found murdered in the Road, and their Money

taken from them: All the rest, to the Number of seventeen as they drew nigh

to _Edinburgh_, were arrested and thrown into Goal, upon Suspicion, of they

knew not what; However, the Magistrates were not long at a Loss for proper

Accusations, for two of the Gang offering themselves for Evidences were

accepted of; and the others were brought to a speedy Tryal, whereof nine

were convicted and executed.

_Kennedy_ having spent all his Money, came over from _Ireland_, and kept a

common B--y-House on _Deptford_ Road, and now and then, 'twas thought, made

an Excursion abroad in the Way of his former Profession, till one of his

Houshold W--s gave Information against him for a Robbery, for which he was

committed to _Bridewell_; but because she would not do the Business by

halves, she found out a Mate of a Ship that _Kennedy_ had committed Pyracy

upon, as he foolishly confess'd to her. This Mate, whose Name was _Grant_,

paid _Kennedy_ a Visit in _Bridewell_, and knowing him to be the Man,

procured a Warrant, and had him committed to the _Marshalsea_ Prison.

The Game that _Kennedy_ had now to play was to turn Evidence himself;

accordingly he gave a List of eight or ten of his Comrades; but not being

acquainted with their Habitations, one only was taken, who, tho' condemn'd,

appeared to be a Man of a fair Character, was forc'd into their Service,

and took the first Opportunity to get from them, and therefore receiv'd a

Pardon; but _Walter Kennedy_ being a notorious Offender, was executed the

19th of _July_, 1721, at _Execution Dock_.

The rest of the Pyrates who were left in the Ship _Rover_, staid not long

behind, for they went ashore to one of the _West-India_ Islands; what

became of them afterwards, I can't tell, but the Ship was found at Sea by a

Sloop belonging to St. _Christophers_, and carried into that Island with

only nine Negroes aboard.

Thus we see what a disastrous Fate ever attends the Wicked, and how rarely

they escape the Punishment due to their Crimes, who, abandon'd to such a

profligate Life, rob, spoil, and prey upon Mankind, contrary to the Light

and Law of Nature, as well as the Law of God. It might have been hoped,

that the Examples of these Deaths, would have been as Marks to the

Remainder of this Gang, how to shun the Rocks their Companions had split

on; that they would have surrendered to Mercy, or divided themselves, for

ever from such Pursuits, as in the End they might be sure would subject

them to the same Law and Punishment, which they must be conscious they now

equally deserved; _impending Law_, which never let them sleep well, unless

when drunk. But all the Use that was made of it here, was to commend the

Justice of the Court, that condemn'd _Kennedy, for he was a sad Dog_ (they

said) _and deserved the Fate he met with_.

But to go back to _Roberts_, whom we left on the Coast of _Caiana_, in a

grievous Passion at what _Kennedy_ and the Crew had done; and who was now

projecting new Adventures with his small Company in the Sloop; but finding

hitherto they had been but as a Rope of Sand, they formed a Set of

Articles, to be signed and sworn to, for the better Conservation of their

Society, and doing Justice to one another; excluding all _Irish_ Men from

the Benefit of it, to whom they had an implacable Aversion upon the Account

of _Kennedy_. How indeed _Roberts_ could think that an Oath would be

obligatory, where Defiance had been given to the Laws of God and Man, I

can't tell, but he thought their greatest Security lay in this, _That it

was every one's Interest to observe them if they were minded to keep up so

abominable a Combination_.

The following, is the Substance of the Articles, as taken from the

Pyrates own Informations.