Latroon _and his Comrades about to leave_ Bantam _and go to_ Surrat,
_having done lading their Vessel, shew some tricks to prevent
suspition of marching off, He sets sail from thence and meets with an
Enemy, an account of a most desperate and horrible fight with him. He
gives you an exact account or journal of that Voyage from_ Bantam _to_
Surrat.
Having buried our dead, we resolv’d upon a General Counsel, to see what
we had done, and what we had left undone. We found that half our ready
money was disburst, and that we had above half as much goods upon
Credit, as our whole sum amounted to, and now resolving to make a final
and speedy dispatch of all, I got all my Estate aboard not leaving any
thing valuable behind me, excepting only what was in the house for the
accommodation of my Guests, having an happy opportunity of conveying my
own Goods with the Captains, and others that were concern’d with us the
_Scrivener_, and the rest did the like.
That very day that we intended to set sayl, we were all merry at my
house with the _Bannian_, and promising that the next day we would pay
him what was in arrears, and also lay out five hundred peices more ready
money; he seem’d highly pleas’d, leaving him, we shew’d our selves
through the whole Factory with much Gallantry. The reason that we did
not take in our whole loading in this Port, was the great number of
_Dutch_ Vessels which lately came into the road, and more daily
expected, which we knew would not only obstruct our Credit, but raise
the Commodities of that place. We were fain to scuffle hard among our
Country-men for what we had already, there being at that time at Anchor
in the harbour several ships. And having ready money pretty store we
resolved to take in the rest at _Surrat_, which place would secure us
well enough, and what we had deceitfully got. Having spent most part of
the day in shewing our selves in the Town, about Three of the Clock in
the afternoon, it being the fourteenth day of _July_, we got aboard, as
if we intended to feast it, for there was none of the whole Factory, or
our _Bannian_ especially would think us so indiscreet to set sayl with
half our fraught, that was my policy, and being unsuspected upon that
account we might with the greater facility and security march off.
Getting all our Anchors aboard in a trice, we loost our Sayls away we
steer’d between the Main and _Paulo pan jan_, all the next day till six
in the Evening, being then athwart the _South-salt-hill_, we steered
_South-west_ and by _west_, and _west_ and by _south_, but from that
hill we steer’d _west south west_, having the wind for the most part at
_East south east_ with much rain, which afflicted me grievously, for my
fears of some pursuing us would not let me quit the Decks till I thought
we were out of all danger in being followed. The sixteenth of this
moneth at noon we espy’d _Hippins_ Island _Eastward_ ten leagues off,
having steer’d all night _West south west_. Latitude about 6 Degrees 38
and Longitude from _South-salt-hil_ 6 Degrees 44 _West_, the wind at
_south-east_ with the help of a Currant for twenty four hours, from the
sixteenth to the twenty ninth of this month, we had the winds between
the _south-east_, and _east north east_, with most intolerable rains at
Noon, being in latitude 11 degrees 59 _south_, and longitude 20 Degrees
35 _West_, the variation about 12 Degrees 35 _Westerly_; we sailed this
month on several Courses, four hundred ninty six miles.
Mistress _Dorothy_ being indifferently well recovered though a bad
spectacle to look on by reason of the skin of her body all coming off
with her nails, such was the malignity of the Venome; I say, speaking as
well as she could, desired me to write some lines on her dearly beloved
dead Comrade, knowing that my fancy did ever incline to measure lines,
and so to please my self, more than to give her satisfaction, I composed
these Verses.
On the death of his _Indian_ wife, and his old
Wench.
_Start not my_ Muse, _what Paradox is this,
That the same cause works both my Woe and Bliss?
Here lies my bliss, a more than brutish Wife,
By her own Butch’ring hands bereft of life.
My Woe lies here, my murder’d Joy, Alas!
What_ Wicked hand _durst bring this_ Ill _to pass_?
Hells consistory _sate within that brest,
Which sent my_ Love _to her Eternal rest.
How happy had I been, had the_ Blest Powers,
_Enlarg’d her_ Minutes, _and have made them_ Hours.
_Turn’d these short hours into long days, that I
Might dread_ Deaths _approach, when she should dye.
But she is gone past all recal; and we
Can only weep and sigh her Elegie.
Though we don’t mourn she can no_ Mourners _lack,
Each_ Nature _is at her sad death in_ Black,
_Methinks they’re hoarse with crying, and their votes
(Being sad, and doleful) do befit their_ Coats.
_The_ Clouds _dropt tears; the_ Ayry-Quire _(which flies
Over our heads) do sing her_ Obsequies.
_Shall we be dumb, whilst Birds do use their Art?
No let’s in Sorrow bear with them a part,
When that y’ve done for_ Mall, _bereft of life,
Rejoyce with me, dead, dead’s my wicked_ Wife.
_August_ the ninth, steering _Northerly_ forty two Leagues, we found
_per observationem_ the Ship to run but thirty seven Leagues, which is
five Leagues less by reason of the Current which sets us the
_South-wards_ Latitude at 6 Degrees 24 Longitude 36 Degrees 58 _West_
from the _Salthil_. This afternoon we were in the Latitude of the
_Changus_, to the _West-wards_ of them, not seeing any sign of danger,
the variation is good help if heedfully observ’d, finding about 22
Degrees when you are in 7 or 8 Degrees of _Southerly_ Latitude, a
_Northerly_ course will go clear of all danger. The twelfth of this
moneth we crost _Æquator_, steering _North, North east_, Latitude 10
Degrees, Seconds 85 Digits _Southerly_ Longitude 36 Degrees 51 digits
_West_, the wind at _South_ and by _West_, the variation 19 Degrees,
Seconds 35 Digits _West_.
The twenty-fifth of _August_ we lay a try with main course, and mizen
our Drift _North_ 9 Leagues, the wind at _South west_, a fresh Gale. One
of our men taking our main Top-sail, cryed out a Sail, a Sail. In a
quarter of an hour by the help of my Prospective, I could discern her to
be an Enemy of considerable force, about some forty four pieces of
Ordinance. She made towards us with all the speed she could, and we to
shorted our way, bore up to her with all the Sail we could make, so that
we fetch’t up one the other quickly although we had but thirty six Guns,
eight less than she carry’d, and having fewer men withal we feared her
not, but ran up board and board with her before we fir’d a Gun, and then
we poured in a whole broad-side into her, whilst we pepper’d them above
with whole Vollies of small shot: they returned us the like kindness,
which kill’d us four outright besides what were wounded. Our Captain
behav’d himself very manfully, and so bestirr’d himself in the fight,
shewing so clear a courage as would have animated a very Coward to
fight, as for my own part the meer observation of his magnanimous
behaviour, infus’d into me more valour than I thought my self capable to
contain, or able to make use of: my Land-water Soldiers, the Scrivener
and his two Companions, by the Captains example, and my encouraging,
look’d Death as boldly, and as daringly in the face, as if they had
intended to look him out of countenance, though at first no shot, either
great or small went whistling by them but what made them dap their
heads, as if that would secure them; that Bullet which injures man never
tattles in his ear the ensuing danger; that Bullet that whistles in the
Air, proclames your crown as safe from cracking, as is the Goose after
she hath past through the Barn door stooping lest her lofty head should
knock the top thereof.
There was not any in the Ship exempted from Service, every man as he was
Quartered not budging, but doing the utmost he could to offend his
Enemy; a brave young stout fellow (whom I shall never forget) standing
by me and my _Bantam_ Comrades, a shot came and took away his legg with
that fury, that it rebounded from the side; falling, he seemed not a wit
daunted, but called out aloud, Courage Captain, I warrant you Victory,
if you will but send down this Foot and Legg of mine to the Gunner, and
let him send it to them instead of shot, and I shall laugh to see here,
how it will kick the Arses of those insolent Rogues; _Gregory_ standing
by and seeing what had past, though something scar’d, yet would not
discover any fright, and to hide it the better, commended the brave
resolution of the man, and as he was laughing at the odness of his
conceit (poor Fellow) a shot came and took away one side of his face, so
dyed immediately, now it may be said, _he could laugh at him but with
half a mouth_. This last unhappy Bout so scared the little valor which
was in the Scrivener, that he instantly quitted his station, and
disorder’d more men in his way to his supposed safety, the Hold, than
twenty Troopers could have done in the midst of a Foot-company, a little
afterwards the Drugster attempted to do the like, some of the men in the
waste, seeing him upon his flight (just as I was moving on the same
design) cried out, knock him down, knock down that cowardly fellow with
a handspike, thinking they had meant me, being on the motion, I
endeavour’d to prove the contrary by giving him a sore pelt over the
noddle with my Musquet which laid him a sleep on the Deck; was highly
commended by our Captain for so doing, telling me that two such fellows
among a thousand men, nay an Army of ten times the number, might by
their fear occasion their total overthrow.
The Drugster recovering got to his Quarters, and thought it better to
dye fighting than to be kill’d for being afraid to dye, to work he went
with a Blunderbuss, and fired it so often that he durst not charge it
again till it was cooler, my Musquet was in the like condition. By this
time the Enemy began to stand away from us, but we were resolv’d to keep
her company, and make her pay for the trouble and cost she had put us
to. We perceiv’d she had much a doe to keep herself above water, so that
we were not long before we came to bear again upon her, which we did so
efficaciously, that by a lucky shot penetrating her powder room she blew
up, we being so near her, I verily thought she would have blown us into
the air too, as she did her own men, part of which fell down into our
Ship, as if you would have scatter’d faggot sticks off a house top: we
had not above six men in all kill’d, and about nine wounded, none
mortally, which were immediately committed into the hands of an
excellent Chirurgion we had aboard, who took such a special care of them
that before we came to _Surrat_, they were all perfectly cured.
Our ship receiv’d some dammage which was rectifyed by our Carpenters as
well as they could for the present, and sail’d forward in our voyage.
The next day we were forc’d to lye a Try again, which we did the
thirtieth day, the wind at South-west allowing each days drift. The one
and thirtieth we shortned sail all but our Sprit-sail, top-sail because
of falling too soon with the Coast of _India_. This month we ran eight
hundred fifty two Leagues on several Courses.
From the first to the fourth of _September_, we stood away only with a
sprit-sail top-sail the course and distances, _&c._, observed having a
fair wind Westerly, but the next we steer’d East and by North, with
Sprit-sail and fore-topsail. The fifth from twelve to six (_per
Compass_) East five Leagues, having at four of the Clock had ground
sixty four fathome Oazy sand, then set more sail and stood in _North,
North-west_ till six in the morning, our depth in running the Course of
seven Leagues was fifty five, sixty and sixty-four Fathome in Latitude,
about 20 Degrees, Seconds 42 and Longitude 30 Degrees, Seconds, 3 Digits
_West_. On the sixth day we steer’d _East_ and by _North_, till four in
the afternoon, at which time we saw Land, it was low and Sandy banks,
with some Trees, and a white Tower or Church which may be seen four or
five Leagues off. This place was judged by those men of ours that had
sail’d often this way, to be fourteen Leagues to the _westward_ of
_Diu_. This evening we took a small boat not far off _Poramena_, bound
to _Chichauho_ near _Caule_, they had only three horses in her, having
nothing in her worth making prize, we dismist them the next day without
taking ought from them. The seventh and eight dayes we stood off and on,
expecting to meet with some Jonks. On the ninth we met with a Jonk of
_Gogo_, coming from _Mare Rubram_, or the Red-Sea, richly laden, which
we took, imagining we now were made for ever, but the Commander soon
dasht all our joyes, by producing a pass from the President of _Surrat_,
upon sight hereof our Captain durst not detain her. I was on board her
and having seen some part of her _Cargo_, I judg’d by that the richness
of the rest, and therefore perswaded the Captain to make her prize
though she had a hundred president passes, but he would not yeild,
knowing better the danger than I did, and so dismist her to my great
sorrow.
On the tenth we took a Jonk belonging to the King of _Succatore_, bound
as they said, to _Surrat_, (the Devil was in our Captain to believe a
word they said if ought might be gotten by them) and had aboard of her
little that was considerable, saving six horses, and bast to make Ropes
withal, wherefore he dismist her.
On the eleventh we anchored in twenty fathom three Leagues off the
shore, to give notice if any Jonks should pass by in the night, they
stood to the _Westwards_; and met a Jonk coming from the Red-sea, but
this cowardly Hulk seeing our Boat, supposed her to be a Scout from some
Man of War not far off, ran and sheltered her self under a Fort some
fourteen Leagues to the West-ward of _Diu_-head. This Jonk had some
_Europeans_ aboard her, which plyed their small shot so that our Boat
was forced to leave her, and coming aboard us was sent out again better
provided with men and arms to lye as they had done before, to meet with
the said Jonk, but in the night came six Sayl of Friggats instead of her
and anchored by them. Our desperate daring less than little _Fan Fan_,
would not leave them (knowing who they were) till she had spit that
little Venom that was in her and then retir’d, this so allarm’d us that
we got all sayls loose; and weighing up our Anchor the Cable broke, so
our Anchor was lost; we stood in and having spent some shot on the
Friggats notwithstanding there was such inequality in the number, they
stood away for the shore and left us, however we would not let them pass
so, but being some seven Leagues from _Diu_-head, in the night we stood
in again amongst the Friggats, but there being little wind and a light
night, they crept under the shore, from the twelfth to the seventeenth
we plyed to and again, standing off in the day, and in again at night,
seeing these Friggats every day, but could not come at them; they lay
there to give the Jonks notice of us as we supposed.
The eighteenth we made up to the Land of Saint _John’s_ fourteen or
fifteen Leagues off, near which we took a boat that came from _Danda
ja-vapore_, bound for a place near _Diu_, out of this boat we only took
two _Mestico’s_ and a boy, and so dismist her; anchoring at eighteen
Fathome Oazy (being high water and little wind) in Latitude 19 Degrees,
48 Digits, about nine Leagues of shore, _Valentines pike_, _East_ and by
_South_, _per_ Compass.
The two and twentieth we saw a Jonk and gave chase to her, fetching her
up we found her to be a great Junk of _Surrat_, bound for _Acheen_ with
Merchandise, having a pass from the President and Councel, therefore he
medled not with them; but in the afternoon came to an anchor in two and
twenty Fathom, about thirty Leagues of shore. The weather was gusty with
much rain, but never did I hear such peals of Thunder, nor see such
great and continued flashes of Lightning: at four in the evening the
next day we anchor’d at eighteen fathom within six leagues of _Damon_,
the wind at _North North east_, and variable, with such terrible claps
of Thunder and Lightning, that my friends, the Scrivener and Drugster
would have freely parted with all they had to have been at the bottom of
a _Cornish_ Tinn-mine. They envied now poor _Gregories_ condition,
accounting his misery a great happiness, for since the Element of Water
had received him into the Womb of her protection, the Element of fire
might as soon give him a new soul as to detriment his body, theirs being
now minutely expos’d to the mercy of its uncontroulable fury.
On the twenty fifths evening we anchored in ten fathom reddish clay, the
_Pagod_ _East, North east_, _per_ Compass, and the trees of old
_Swalley_, _North, North-east_, about three Leagues off; the next day
the wind being at _North, North-west_, we turn’d up and anchor’d in ten
fathom, the Toddy-trees _East_ and by _North_, _per_ Compass.
Lastly, having laid one buoy on the tonge of the sand and another on the
point of the Main, we came over the Barr, the least water is four fathom
and half at half flood, so we ran in till the Souther-Toddy-tree bore
South and by East _per_ Compass, and there anchor’d in eight fathom
water. This month we sailed not above one Hundred and seven Leagues.
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