Captain Misson was born in Provence, of an ancient family. His father
was master of a plentiful fortune; but having a great number of
children, our rover had but little hopes of other fortune than what he
could carve out for himself with his sword. His parents took care to
give him an education equal to his birth, and upon the completion of it
would have put him into the musketeers; but as he was of a roving
temper, and much affected with the accounts he had read in books of
travels, he chose the sea as a life which abounds with more variety, and
would afford him an opportunity to gratify his curiosity, by the change
of countries. Having made this choice, his father, with letters of
recommendation, and every thing fitting for him, sent him to volunteer
on board the Victoire, commanded by Monsieur Fourbin, his relation. He
was received on board with all possible regard by the Captain, whose
ship was at Marseilles, and was ordered to cruise soon after Misson’s
arrival. Nothing could be more agreeable to the inclinations of our
volunteer than this cruise, which made him acquainted with the most
noted ports in the Mediterranean, and gave him a great insight into the
practical part of navigation. He grew fond of this life, and was
resolved to be a complete sailor, which made him always one of the first
on a yard arm, either to hand or reef, and very inquisitive in the
different methods of working a ship: his discourse was turned on no
other subject, and he would often get the boatswain and carpenter to
teach him in their cabins the constituent parts of a ship’s hull, and
how to rig her, which he generously paid them for; and though he spent a
great part of his time with these two officers, yet he behaved himself
with such prudence that they never attempted any familiarity, and always
paid the respect due to his family. The ship being at Naples, he
obtained leave of his captain to go to Rome, which he had a great desire
to visit. Hence we may date his misfortunes; for, remarking the
licentious lives of the clergy, (so different from the regularity
observed among the French ecclesiastics,) the luxury of the Papal Court,
and that nothing but hulls of religion were to be found in the
metropolis of the christian church, he began to figure to himself that
all religion was no more than a curb upon the minds of the weaker, which
the wiser sort yielded to, in appearance only. These sentiments, so
disadvantageous to religion and himself, were strongly riveted by
accidentally becoming acquainted with a lewd priest, who was at his
arrival (by mere chance) his confessor, and after that his procurer and
companion, for he kept him company to his death.
[Illustration: The Victory engages with two Salle-men. Page 7.]
Misson at length became so much attached to this man, that he advised
him to go with him as volunteer, and offered him money to clothe him:
the priest leaped at the proposal, and a letter coming to Misson from
his captain, that he was going to Leghorn, and left it to him either to
come to Naples, or go by land; he chose the latter, and the Dominican,
whom he furnished with money, clothing himself very cavalierly, threw
off his habit, and preceded him two days, staying at Pisa for Misson;
from whence they went together to Leghorn, where they found the
Victoire, and signior Caraccioli, recommended by his friend, was
received on board. Two days after they weighed from hence, and after a
week’s cruise fell in with two Sallee-men, the one of twenty, the other
of twenty-four guns; the Victoire had but thirty mounted, though she had
ports for forty. The engagement was long and bloody, for the Sallee-men
hoped to carry the Victoire; and, on the contrary, Capt. Fourbin, so far
from having any thoughts of being taken, he was resolutely bent to make
prize of his enemies, or sink his ship. One of the Sallee-men was
commanded by a Spanish renegade, (though he had only the title of a
lieutenant) for the captain was a young man who knew little of marine
affairs.
This ship was called the Lion; and he attempted, more than once, to
board the Victoire; but by a shot betwixt wind and water, he was obliged
to sheer off, and running his guns, &c. on one side, to bring her on the
careen to stop his leak; this being done with too much precipitation,
she overset, and every soul was lost. His comrade, seeing this disaster,
threw out all his small sails, endeavoured to get off, but the Victoire
wronged her, and obliged her to renew the fight, which she did with
great obstinacy, and made Monsieur Fourbin despair of carrying her if he
did not board; he made preparations accordingly. Signior Caraccioli and
Misson were the two first on board when the command was given; but they
and their followers were beat back by the despair of the Sallee-men; the
former received a shot in his thigh, and was carried down to the
surgeon. The Victoire laid her on board the second time, and the
Sallee-men defended their decks with such resolution, that they were
covered with their own, and the dead bodies of their enemies. Misson
seeing one of them jump down the main hatch with a lighted match,
suspecting his design, resolutely leaped after him, and reaching him
with his sabre, laid him dead the moment he was going to set fire to the
powder. The Victoire pouring in more men, the Mahometans quitted the
decks, finding resistance vain, and fled for shelter to the cook-room,
steerage, and cabins, and some ran between decks. The French gave them
quarters, and put the prisoners on board the Victoire, the prize
yielding nothing worth mention, except liberty to about fifteen
Christian slaves; she was carried into and sold with the prisoners at
Leghorn. The Turks lost a great many men; the French not less than 35 in
boarding, for they lost very few by the great shot, the Sallee-men
firing mostly at the masts and rigging, hoping by disabling to carry
her. The limited time of their cruise being out, the Victoire returned
to Marseilles, from whence Misson taking his companion, went to visit
his parents, to whom the captain sent a very advantageous character,
both of his courage and conduct. He was about a month at home when his
captain wrote to him, that his ship was ordered to Rochelle, from whence
he was to sail for the West-Indies with some merchantmen. This was very
agreeable to Misson and signior Caraccioli, who immediately set out for
Marseilles. This town is well fortified, has four parish churches, and
the number of inhabitants is computed to be about 120,000; the harbour
is esteemed the safest in the Mediterranean, and is the common station
for the French gallies.
Leaving this place, they steered for Rochelle, where the Victoire was
docked, the merchant ships not being near ready. Misson, who did not
care to pass so long a time in idleness, proposed to his comrade the
taking a cruise on board the Triumph, which was going into the English
channel; and the Italian readily consented to it.
Between the Isle of Guernsey and the Start Point, they met with the
Mayflower, Capt. Balladine, commander, a merchant ship of 18 guns,
richly laden, and coming from Jamaica. The captain of the English made a
gallant resistance, and fought his ship so long, that the French could
not carry her into harbour, wherefore they took the money, and what was
most valuable, out of her; and finding she made more water than the
pumps could free, quitted, and saw her go down in less than four hours
after. Monsieur Le Blanc, the French captain, received Capt. Balladine
very civilly, and would not suffer either him or his men to be stripped,
saying, _None but cowards ought to be treated after that manner; that
brave men ought to treat such, though their enemies, as brothers; and
that to use a gallant man (who does his duty) ill, speaks a revenge
which cannot proceed but from a coward soul_. He ordered that the
prisoners should have their chests; and when some of his men seemed to
mutter, he bade them remember the grandeur of the monarch they served;
that they were neither pirates nor privateers; and as brave men, they
ought to show their enemies an example they would willingly have
followed, and use their prisoners as they wished to be used.
They then run up the English channel as high as Beachy Head, and, in
returning, fell in with three fifty gun ships; which gave chase to the
Triumph; but as she was an excellent sailor, she run them out of sight
in seven glasses, and made the best of her way for the Land’s-End. They
here cruised eight days, then doubling Cape Cornwall, ran up the Bristol
channel, near as far as Nash Point, and intercepted a small ship from
Barbadoes, and stretching away to the northward, gave chase to a ship
they saw in the evening, but lost her in the night. The Triumph then
stood towards Milford, and spying a sail, endeavoured to cut her off the
land, but found it impossible; for she got into the haven, though they
came up with her very fast, and she had surely been taken had the chase
been any thing longer.
Capt. Balladine, who took the glass, said it was the Port Royal, a
Bristol ship, which left Jamaica in company with him and the Charles.
They now returned to their own coast, and sold their prize at Brest,
where, at his desire, they left Capt. Balladine, and Monsieur Le Blanc
made him a present of a purse with 40 _louis_ for his support. His crew
were also left here.
At the entrance into this harbour the Triumph struck upon a rock, but
received no damage. This entrance, called Gonlet, is very dangerous on
account of the number of rocks which lie on each side under water,
though the harbour is certainly the best in France. The mouth of the
harbour is defended by a strong castle; the town is well fortified, and
has a citadel for its farther defence, which is of considerable
strength. In 1694 the English attempted a descent, but did not find
their market, for they were beat off with the loss of their general, and
a great many men. From hence the Triumph returned to Rochelle, and in a
month after, our volunteers, who went on board the Victoire, took their
departure for Martinico and Guadaloupe. They met with nothing in their
voyage thither worth noting. I shall only observe, that signior
Caraccioli, who was as ambitious as he was irreligious, had, by this
time, made a perfect deist of Misson, and thereby convinced him, that
all religion was no other than human policy. But his arguments on this
head are too long, and too dangerous to translate; and as they are
worked up with great subtlety, they may be pernicious to weak men, who
cannot discover their fallacy, or who, finding them agreeable to their
inclinations, would be glad to shake off the yoke of the christian
religion, which galls and curbs their passions, and would not give
themselves the trouble to examine them to the bottom, but give it to
what pleases, glad of finding some excuse to their consciences.
As he had privately held these discourses among the crew, he had gained
a number of proselytes, who looked upon him as a new prophet risen up to
reform the abuses in religion; and a great number being Rochellers, and,
as yet, tainted with Calvanism, his doctrine was the more readily
embraced. When he had experienced the affects of his religious
arguments, he fell upon government, and showed, that every man was born
free, and had as much right to what would support him, as to the air he
respired. A contrary way of arguing would be accusing the deity with
cruelty and injustice, for he brought into the world no man to pass a
life of penury, and to miserably want a necessary support; that the vast
difference between man and man, one wallowing in luxury, and the other
in the most pinching necessity, was owing only to avarice and ambition
on the one hand, and a pusillanimous subjection on the other; that at
first no other than a natural was known a paternal government, every
father was the head, the prince and monarch of his family, and obedience
to such was both just and easy, for a father had compassionate
tenderness for his children; but ambition creeping in by degrees, the
stronger family set upon and enslaved the weaker; and this additional
strength over-run a third, by every conquest gathering force to make
others, and this was the first foundation of monarchy. Pride increasing
with power, man usurped the prerogative of God, over his creatures, that
of depriving them of life, which was a privilege no one had over his
own; for as he did not come into the world by his own election, he ought
to stay the determined time of his creator; that indeed, death given in
war, was by the law of nature allowable, because it is for the
preservation of our own lives; but no crime ought to be thus punished,
nor indeed any war undertaken, but in defence of our natural right,
which is such a share of earth as is necessary for our support.
[Illustration: Engagement between the Victoire and Winchelsea.—The
Winchelsea blew up. Page 12.]
These topics he often declaimed on, and very often advised with Misson
about the setting up for themselves; he was as ambitious as the other,
and as resolute. Caraccioli and Misson were by this, expert mariners,
and very capable of managing a ship; Caraccioli had sounded a great many
of the men on this subject, and found them very inclinable to listen to
him. An accident happened which gave Caraccioli a fair opportunity to
put his designs in execution, and he laid hold of it. They went off
Martinico on a cruise, and met with the Winchelsea, an English man of
war of 40 guns, commanded by Capt. Jones; they made for each other, and
a very smart engagement followed; the first broadside killed the
captain, second captain, and the three lieutenants, on board the
Victoire, and left only the master, who would have struck, but Misson
took up the sword, ordered Caraccioli to act as lieutenant, and
encouraging the men fought the ship six glasses, when by some accident
the Winchelsea blew up, and not a man was saved but Lieut. Franklin,
whom the French boats took up, and he died in two days. None ever knew
before this manuscript fell into my hands, how the Winchelsea was lost;
for her head being driven ashore at Antigua, and a great storm having
happened a few days before it was found, it was concluded, that she
foundered in that storm. After this engagement, Caraccioli came to
Misson and saluted him captain, and desired to know if he would choose a
momentary or a lasting command, that he must now determine, for at his
return to Martinico it would be too late; and he might depend upon the
ship he fought and saved being given to another, and they would think
him well rewarded if made a lieutenant which piece of justice he
doubted; that he had his fortune in his hands, which he might either
keep or let go; if he made choice of the latter, he must never again
expect she would court him to accept her favours; that he ought to set
before his eyes his circumstances, as a younger brother of a good
family, but nothing to support his character; and the many years he must
serve at the expense of his blood before he could make any figure in the
world, and consider the wide difference between the commanding and being
commanded; that he might with the ship he had under foot, and the brave
fellows under command, bid defiance to the power of Europe, enjoy every
thing he wished, reign sovereign of the Southern Seas, and lawfully make
war on all the world, since it would deprive him of that liberty to
which he had a right by the laws of nature, that he might in time,
become as great as Alexander was to the Persians: and by increasing his
forces by captures, he would every day strengthen the justice of his
cause, for who has power is always in the right. That Harry the fourth
and Harry the seventh, attempted and succeeded in their enterprises on
the crown of England, yet their forces did not equal his. Mahomet with a
few camel drivers, founded the Ottoman empire; and Darius, with no more
than six or seven companions, got possession of that of Persia.
In a word, he said so much that Misson resolved to follow his advice,
and calling up all hands, he told them, “That a great number of them had
resolved with him upon a life of liberty, and had done him the honor to
create him chief; that he designed to force no man, and be guilty of
that injustice he blamed in others; therefore, if any were averse to the
following his fortune, which he promised should be the same to all, he
desired they would declare themselves, and he would set them ashore,
whence they might return with conveniency.” Having made an end, they one
and all cried, “_Vive le Captain Misson et son Lieutenant le savant
Caraccioli_“—_God bless Captain Misson and his learned Lieutenant
Caraccioli_. Misson thanked them for the honor they conferred upon him,
and promised he would use the power they gave for the public good only,
and hoped as they had the bravery to assert their liberty, they would be
as unanimous in the preservation of it, and stand by him in what should
be found expedient for the good of all; that he was their friend and
companion, and should never exert his power, or think himself other than
their comrade, but when the necessity of affairs should oblige him.
They shouted a second time, _Vive le Capitain_: he, after this, desired
they would choose their subaltern officers, and give them power to
consult and conclude upon what might be for the common interest, and
bind themselves down by an oath to agree to what such officers and he
should determine; this they readily gave in to. The schoolmaster they
chose for second lieutenant, Jean Besace they nominated for third, and
the boatswain, and a quarter master, named Mathieu le Tondu, with the
gunner they desired might be their representatives in council. The
choice was approved, and that every thing might pass methodically, and
with general approbation, they were called into the great cabin, and the
question put, _What course they should steer?_ The captain proposed the
Spanish coast as the most probable to afford them rich prizes. This was
agreed upon by all. The boatswain then asked what colours they should
fight under, and advised black as the most terrifying, but Caraccioli
objected, “that they were no pirates, but men who were resolved to
assert that liberty which God and nature gave them, and own no
subjection to any, farther than was for the common good of all: that
indeed obedience to governors was necessary, when they knew and acted up
to the duty of their function; were vigilant guardians of the people’s
rights and liberties; saw that justice was equally distributed; were
barriers against the rich and powerful, when they attempted to oppress
the weaker; when they suffered none on the one hand to grow immensely
rich, either by his own or his ancestor’s encroachments: nor on the
other, to be wretchedly miserable, either by falling, into the hands of
villains, unmerciful creditors, or other misfortunes; while he had eyes
impartial, and allowed nothing but merit to distinguish between man and
man; and instead of being a burthen to the people by his luxurious life,
he was by his care for, and protection of them, a real father, and in
everything acted with the equal and impartial justice of a parent: but
when a governor, who is the minister of the people, thinks himself
raised to this dignity, that he may spend his days in pomp and luxury,
looking upon his subjects as so many slaves, created for his use and
pleasure, and therefore leaves them and their affairs to the
immeasurable avarice and tyranny of some one whom he has chosen for his
favourite; when nothing but oppression, poverty and all the miseries of
life flow from such an administration; that he lavishes away the lives
and fortunes of the people, either to gratify his ambition, or to
support the cause of some neighbouring prince, that he may in return,
strengthen his hands should his people exert themselves in defence of
their native rights; or should he run into unnecessary wars, by the rash
and thoughtless councils of his favourite, and not able to make head
against the enemy he has rashly or wantonly brought upon his hands, and
buy a peace (which is the present case of France, as every one knows, by
supporting King James, and afterwards proclaiming his son) and drain the
subject; should the people’s trade be wilfully neglected, for private
interests, and while their ships of war lie idle in their harbours,
suffer their vessels to be taken; and the enemy not only intercepts all
commerce, but insults their coasts: it speaks a generous and great soul
to shake off the yoke; and if we cannot redress our wrongs, withdraw
from sharing the miseries which meaner spirits submit to, and scorn to
yield to the tyranny. Such men as we, and, if the world, as experience
may convince us it will, makes war upon us, the law of nature empowers
us not only to be on the defensive, but also on the offensive part. As
we then do not proceed upon the same ground with pirates, who are men of
dissolute lives and no principles, let us scorn to take their colours;
ours is a brave, a just, an innocent, and a noble cause; the cause of
liberty. I therefore advise a white ensign, with liberty painted in the
fly, and if you like the motto, “_a Deo a libertate_,” for God and
liberty, as an emblem of our uprightness and resolution.”
The cabin door was left open, and the bulk-head, which was of canvass,
rolled up: the steerage being full of men, who lent an attentive ear,
they cried, “_Liberty, Liberty; we are free men: Vive the brave Capt.
Misson and the noble Lieut. Caraccioli!_” This short council breaking
up, every thing belonging to the deceased captain, and the other
officers, and men lost in the engagement, was brought upon deck and
overhauled; the money ordered to be put into a chest, and the carpenter
to clap on a padlock, and give a key to every one of the council; Misson
telling them, all should be in common, and the particular avarice of no
one should defraud the public.
When the plate Monsieur Fourbin had, was going to the chest, the men
unanimously cried out “avast! keep that out for the captain’s use, as a
present from his officers and foremast men.” Misson thanked them, the
plate was returned to the great cabin, and the chest secured according
to orders: Misson then ordered his lieutenants and other officers to
examine who among the men, were in most want of clothes, and to
distribute those of the dead men impartially, which was done with the
general consent and applause of the whole crew. All but the wounded
being upon deck, Misson from the barricade, spoke to the following
purpose, “That since they had unanimously resolved to seize upon and
defend their liberty, which ambitious men had usurped, and that this
could not be esteemed by impartial judges other than a just and brave
resolution, he was under an obligation to recommend to them a brotherly
love to each other; the banishment of all private piques and grudges,
and a strict agreement and harmony among themselves; that in throwing
off the yoke of tyranny, of which the action spoke an abhorrence, he
hoped none would follow the example of tyrants, and turn his back upon
justice; for when equity was trodden under foot, misery, confusion, and
mutual distrust naturally followed.” He also advised them to remember
there was a Supreme, the adoration of whom, reason and gratitude
prompted us to, and our own interest would engage us (as it is best to
be of the sure side, and after-life was allowed possible) to conciliate:
that he was satisfied men who were born and bred in slavery, by which
their spirits were broke, and were incapable of so generous a way of
thinking, who, ignorant of their birth-right, and the sweets of liberty
dance to the music of their chains, which was, indeed the greater part
of the inhabitants of the globe, would brand this generous crew with the
invidious name of pirates, and think it meritorious to be instrumental
in their destruction. Self-preservation, therefore, and not a cruel
disposition, obliged him to declare war against all such as should
refuse him the entry of their ports, and against all, who should not
immediately surrender and give up what their necessities required; but
in a more particular manner against all European ships and vessels, as
concluded implacable enemies. _And I do now_, said he, _declare such
war, and, at the same time, recommend to you, my comrades, a humane and
generous behaviour, towards your prisoners; which will appear by so much
more the effects of a noble soul, as we are satisfied we should not meet
the same treatment should our ill fortune, or more properly our
disunion, or want of courage, give us up to their mercy_.
After this, he required a muster should be made, and there were able
hands two hundred, and thirty-five sick and wounded. As they were
mustered, they were sworn. After affairs were thus settled, they shaped
their course for the Spanish West-Indies, but resolved in the way, to
take a week or ten days’ cruise in the windward passage from Jamaica,
because most merchantmen, which were good sailers, and did not stay for
convoy, took this as the shorter cut for England.
Off St. Christopher’s they took an English sloop becalmed, with their
boats. They took out of her a couple of puncheons of rum, and half a
dozen hogsheads of sugar. She was a New-England sloop, bound for Boston,
and without offering the least violence to the men, or stripping them,
they let her go. The master of the sloop was Thomas Butler, who owned he
never met with so candid an enemy as the French man of war, which took
him the day he left St. Christophers. They met with no other booty in
their way, till they came upon their station, when after three days,
they saw a sloop which had the impudence to give them chase. Capt.
Misson asked what could be the meaning of the sloop standing for them?
One of the men who was acquainted with the West-Indies, told him, it was
a Jamaica privateer, and he should not wonder, if he clapped him aboard.
“I am,” said he, “no stranger to their way of working, and this
despicable fellow, as those who don’t know a Jamaica privateer may think
him, it is ten to one will give you some trouble. It now grows towards
evening, and you’ll find as soon as he has discovered your force, he’ll
keep out of the reach of your guns till the 12 o’clock watch is changed
at night, and he’ll then attempt to clap you aboard, with hopes to carry
you in the hurry: wherefore, captain, if you will give me leave to
advise you, let every man have his small arms; and at 12, let the bell
ring as usual, and rather more noise than ordinary be made, as if the
one watch was turning in, and the other out, in a confusion and hurry,
and I’ll engage he will venture to enter his men.” The fellow’s advice
was approved and resolved upon, and the sloop worked as he said she
would; for upon coming near enough to make out distinctly the force of
the Victoire, on her throwing out French colours, she, the sloop,
clapped upon a wind, and the Victoire gave chase, but without hopes of
gaining upon her; she went so well to windward, that she could spare the
ship some points in her sheet, and yet wrong her: at dusk of the
evening, the French had lost sight of her, but about 11 at night, they
saw her hankering up on their weather bow, which confirmed the sailor’s
opinion, that she would attempt to board them, as she did at the
pretended change of the watch; there being little or no wind, she lashed
to the bowsprit of the Victoire, and entered her men, who were very
quietly taken, as they entered, and tumbled down the fore-hatch where
they were received by others, and bound without noise. Not one of the
privateersmen was killed, few hurt, and only one Frenchman wounded. The
Victoire, seeing the better part of the sloop’s men secured, they
boarded in their turn, when the privateersmen, suspecting some
stratagem, were endeavouring to cut their lashing and get off. Thus the
Englishmen caught a Tartar. The prisoners being all secured, the captain
charged his men not to discover, through a desire of augmenting their
number, the account they were upon.
The next morning Monsieur Misson called for the captain of the
privateer, and told him, he could not but allow him a brave fellow, to
venture upon a ship of his countenance, and for that reason he should
meet treatment which men of his profession seldom afforded the prisoners
they made. He asked him how long he had been out, what was his name, and
what he had on board? He answered he was but just come out, that he was
the first sail he had met with, and should have thought himself
altogether as lucky not to have spoke with him; that his name was Harry
Ramsey, and what he had on board were rags, powder, ball, and some few
half ankers of rum. Ramsey was ordered into the gun-room, and a council
was held in the public manner aforesaid, the bulk-head of the great
cabin being rolled up. On their conclusion, the captain of the privateer
was called in again, when Capt. Misson told him, he would return him his
sloop, and restore him and his men to their liberty, without stripping
or plundering them of any thing, but what prudence obliged him to, their
ammunition and small arms, if he would give him his word and honour, and
his men take an oath, not to go out on the privateer account in six
months after they left him: that he did not design to continue on that
station above a week longer, at the expiration of which time, he would
let them go.
Ramsay, who had a new sloop, did not expect this favour which he thanked
him for, and promised punctually to comply with the injunction, which
his men as readily swore to, though they had no design to keep the oath.
The time being expired, he and his men were put on board their own
sloop. At going over the ship’s side, Ramsay begged Monsieur Misson
would allow him powder for a salute, by way of thanks; but he answered
him, the ceremony was needless, and he expected no other return than
that of keeping his word, which indeed Ramsay did. Some of his men had
found it more to their advantage to have been as religious.
At parting Ramsey gave the ship three cheers, and Misson had the
complaisance to return one, which Ramsay answering with three more, made
the best of his way for Jamaica, and at the east end of the island met
with the Diana, who, upon advice, turned back.
The Victoire steered for Carthagena, off which port they cruised some
days, but meeting with nothing in those seas, they made for Porto Bello;
in their way they met with two Dutch traders, who had letters-of-marque,
and were just come upon the coast, the one had 20, the other 24 guns;
Misson engaged them, and they defended themselves with a great deal of
resolution and gallantry; and as they were manned apeak, he durst not
venture to board either of them, for fear of being at the same time
boarded by the other. His weight of metal gave him a great advantage
over the Dutch, though they were two to one; besides, their business, as
they had cargoes, was to get off, if possible, wherefore they made a
running fight, though they took care to stick close to one another.
They maintained the fight for above six hours, when Misson, enraged at
this obstinacy, and fearing, if by accident they should bring a mast, or
top-mast by the board, they would get from him, he was resolved to sink
the larger ship of the two, and accordingly ordered his men to bring all
their guns to bear a midship, then running close along side of him, to
raise their metal, his orders being punctually obeyed, he poured in a
broadside, which opened such a gap in the Dutch ship that she went
directly to the bottom, and every man perished.
He then manned his bowsprit, brought his sprit sail yard fore and aft,
and resolved to board the other, which the Dutch perceiving, and
terrified with the unhappy fate of their comrade, thought a farther
resistance vain, and immediately struck. Misson gave them good quarters,
though he was enraged at the loss of thirteen men killed outright,
beside nine wounded, of which six died. They found on board a great
quantity of gold and silver lace, brocade silks, silk stockings, bales
of broadcloth, baizes of all colours, and osnaburgs.
A consultation being held, it was resolved Capt. Misson should take the
name of Fourbin, and returning to Carthagena, dispose of his prize, and
set his prisoners ashore. Accordingly they plied to the eastward, and
came to an anchor between Boca Chicca fort, and the town, for they did
not think it expedient to enter the harbour. The barge was manned, and
Caraccioli, with the name of D’Aubigny, the first lieutenant, who was
killed in the engagement with the Winchelsea, and his commission in his
pocket, went ashore with a letter to the governor, signed Fourbin, whose
character, for fear of the worst was exactly counterfeited. The purport
of his letter was, that having discretionary orders to cruise for three
months, and hearing the English infested his coast he was come in search
of them, and had met two Dutchmen, one of which he had sunk, the other
he made prize of. That his limited time being near expired, he should be
obliged to his excellency, if he would send on board him such merchants
as were willing to take the ship and cargo off his hands, of which he
had sent the Dutch invoice. Don Joseph de la Zerda, the then governor,
received the lieutenant (who sent back the barge at landing) very
civilly, and agreed to take the prisoners ashore, and do every thing
that was required of him; and ordering fresh provisions and vegetables
to be got ready as a present for the captain, he sent for some
merchants, who were very ready to go on board, and agree for the ship
and goods; which they did, for fifty-two thousand pieces of eight. The
next day the prisoners were set ashore; a rich piece of brocade which
was reserved, sent to the governor for a present, a quantity of fresh
provision bought and brought on board, the money paid by the merchants,
the ship and goods delivered, and the Victoire, at the dawn of the
following day, got under sail. It may be wondered how such despatch
could be made, but the reader must take notice, these goods were sold by
the Dutch invoice, which the merchant of the prize affirmed was genuine.
I shall observe, by the by, that the Victoire was the French man of war
which Admiral Wager sent the Kingston in search of, and being afterwards
falsely informed, that she was joined by another of 70 guns, and that
they cruised together between the Capes, ordered the Severn up to
windward, to assist the Kingston, which had like to have proved very
fatal; for these two English men of war, commanded by Capt. Trevor and
Capt. Pudnor, meeting in the night, had prepared to engage, each taking
the other for the enemy. The Kingston’s men not having a good look-out
which must be attributed to the negligence of the officer of the watch,
did not see the Severn till she was just upon them; but by good luck, to
leeward, and plying up, with all the sail she could crowd, and a clear
ship. This put the Kingston in such confusion, that when the Severn
hailed, no answer was returned for none heard her. She was got under the
Kingston’s stern, and Capt. Pudnor ordered to hail for the third and
last time, and if no answer was returned, to give her a broadside. The
noise on board the Kingston was now a little ceased, and Capt. Trevor,
who was on the poop with a speaking trumpet, to hail the Severn, by good
luck heard her hail him, and answering the Kingston, and asking the name
of the other ship, prevented the damage.
They cruised together some time, and meeting nothing which answered
their information, returned to Jamaica, as I shall to my subject,
begging pardon for this, as I thought, necessary digression.
Don Juan de la Zerda told the captain in a letter, that the St. Joseph,
a galleon of 70 guns, was then lying at Porto Bello, and should be glad
if he could keep her company till she was off the coast. That she would
sail in eight or ten days for the Havana; and that, if his time would
permit him, he would send an advice-boat. That she had on board the
value of 800,000 pieces of eight in silver, and bar gold. Misson
returned answer, that he believed he should be excused if he stretched
his orders, for a few days; and that he would cruise off the Isle of
Pearls, and Cape Gratias a Dios, and give for signal to the galleon, his
spreading a white ensign in his fore-top-mast shrouds, the cluing up his
fore-sail, and the firing one gun to windward, and two to leeward, which
he should answer by hoisting his fore-top-sail three times, and the
firing as many guns to leeward. Don Joseph, extremely pleased with this
complaisance, sent a boat express to advise the St. Joseph, but she was
already sailed two days, contrary to the governor of Carthagena’s
expectation, and this advice Capt. Misson had from the boat, which
returning with an answer, saw the Victoire in the offing, and spoke to
her. It was then resolved to follow the St. Joseph, and accordingly they
steered for the Havanna, but by what accident they did not overtake her
is unknown.
I forgot to tell my reader, that on board the Dutch ship were fourteen
French huguenots, whom Misson thought fit to detain. When they were at
sea, he called them up, and proposed to them their taking on; telling
them at the same time, he left it to their choice, for he would have no
forced men; and that if they all, or any of them disapproved the
proposal, he would either give them the first vessel he met that was fit
for them, or set them ashore on some inhabited coast; and therefore bid
them take two days for consideration before they returned an answer; and
to encourage them, he called all hands up, and declared, that if any man
repented of the course of life he had chosen, his just dividend should
be counted to him, and he would set him on shore, either near the
Havanna, or some other convenient place; but not one accepted the offer,
and the fourteen prisoners unanimously resolved to join in with them; to
which resolution, no doubt, the hopes of a good booty from the St.
Joseph, and this offer of liberty, greatly contributed.
At the entrance of the Gulf they spied and came up with a large merchant
ship bound for London, from Jamaica; she had 20 guns, but no more than
thirty-two hands, so that it is not to be wondered at she made no
resistance; besides, she was deep laden with sugars. Mons. Misson took
out of her what ammunition she had, about four thousand pieces of eight,
some puncheons of rum, and ten hogsheads of sugar; and, without doing
her any further damage, let her proceed her voyage. What he valued most
in this prize was the men he got, for she was carrying to Europe twelve
French prisoners, two of which were necessary hands, being a carpenter
and his mate. They were of Bordeaux from whence they came in the
Pomechatraine, which was taken by the Mermaid off Petit Guave, after an
obstinate resistance, in which they lost 40 men. These men very
willingly came into Capt. Misson’s measures. Having been stripped to the
skin, they begged leave to make reprisals, but the captain would not
suffer them, though he told the master of the prize, as he protected him
and his men, he thought it reasonable these French should be clothed;
upon this the master contributed of his own, and every man bringing up
his chest, thought themselves very well off in sharing with them one
half.
Though Misson’s ship passed for a French man of war, yet his generosity
in letting the prize go, gave the English grounds to suspect the truth,
neither the ship nor cargo being of use to such as were upon the grand
account.
When they had lost all hopes of the St. Joseph, they coasted along the
north side of Cuba, and the Victoire growing now foul, they ran into a
landlocked bay on the E. N. E. point, where they hove her down by boats
and guns, though they could not pretend to heave her keel out; however,
they scraped and tallowed as far as they could go; they, for this
reason, many of them, repented they had let the last prize go, by which
they might have careened.
When they had righted the ship, and put every thing on board, they
consulted upon the course they should steer. Upon this the council
divided. The captain and Caraccioli, were for stretching over to the
African, and the others for New-England coast, alleging, that the ship
had a foul bottom, and was not fit for the voyage; and that if they met
with contrary winds, and bad weather, their stock of provision might
fall short; and that as they were not far from the English settlement of
Carolina, they might either on that or on the coast of Virginia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, New-York, or New-England, intercept ships which
traded to the islands with provisions and by that means provide
themselves with bread, flour, and other necessaries. An account of the
provisions was taken, and finding they had provisions for four months,
Capt. Misson called all hands upon deck, and told them, as the council
differed in the course they should steer, he thought it reasonable to
have it put to the vote of the whole company. That for his part, he was
for going to the coast of Guinea, where they might reasonably expect to
meet with valuable prizes; but should they fail in their expectation one
way, they would be sure of having it answered in another; for they could
then throw themselves in that of East-India ships, and he need not tell
them, that the outward bound drained Europe of what money they drew from
America. He then gave the sentiments of those who were against him, and
their reasons, and begged that every one would give his opinion and vote
according as he thought most conducive to the good of all. That he
should be far from taking it ill if they should reject what he had
proposed, since he had no private views to serve. The majority of votes
fell on the captain’s side, and they accordingly shaped their course for
the coast of Guinea, in which voyage nothing remarkable happened. On
their arrival on the gold coast, they fell in with the Nieuwstadt, of
Amsterdam, a ship of 18 guns, commanded by Capt. Blaes, who made a
running fight of five glasses: this ship they kept with them, putting on
board 40 hands, and bringing all the prisoners on board the Victoire
they were forty-three in number; they left Amsterdam with fifty-six:
seven were killed in the engagement, and they had lost six by sickness
and accidents, one falling overboard, and one being taken by a shark,
going overboard in a calm.
The Nieuwstadt had some gold dust on board, to the value of about £2000
sterling and a few slaves to the number of seventeen, for she had but
just begun to trade; the slaves were a strengthening of their hands, for
the captain ordered them to be clothed out of the Dutch mariners’
chests, and told his men “That the trading for those of our own species
could never be agreeable to the eyes of divine justice: that no man had
power over the liberty of another; and while those who professed a more
enlightened knowledge of the Deity, sold men like beasts, they proved
that their religion was no more than grimace, and that they differed
from the barbarian in name only, since their practice was in nothing
more humane: for his part, and he hoped he spoke the sentiments of all
his brave companions, he had not exempted his neck from the galling yoke
of slavery, and asserted his own liberty to enslave others. That however
these men were distinguished from the Europeans by their colour,
customs, or religious rites, they were the work of the same omnipotent
Being, and indued with equal reason, wherefore he desired they might be
treated like freemen, (for he would banish even the name of slavery from
among them) and divided into messes among them, to the end they might
the sooner learn their language, be sensible of the obligation they had
to them, and more capable and zealous to defend that liberty they owed
to their justice and humanity.”
This speech of Misson’s was received with general applause, and the ship
rang with “_Vive le Capitaine Misson_.” _Long live Capt. Misson._—The
negroes were divided among the French, one to a mess, who, by their
gesticulations showed they were gratefully sensible of their being
delivered from their chains. Their ship growing very foul, and going
heavily through the water, they run into the river Lagoa, where they
hove her down, taking out such planks as had suffered most by the worms,
and substituting new in their room.
After this they careened the prize, and so put out to sea, steering to
the southward, and keeping along the coast, but met with nothing. All
this while, the greatest decorum and regularity was observed on board
the Victoire; but the Dutch prisoners’ example began to lead them into
swearing and drunkenness, which the captain remarking thought it was
best to nip these vices in the bud; and calling both the French and
Dutch upon deck, he addressed himself to the latter, desiring their
captain, who spoke French excellently well, to interpret what he said to
those who did not understand him. He told them, “before he had the
misfortune of having them on board, his ears were never grated with
hearing the name of the great Creator profaned, though he, to his
sorrow, had often since heard his own men guilty of that sin, which
administered neither profit nor pleasure, and might draw upon them a
severe punishment: that if they had a just idea of that great Being,
they would never mention him, but they would immediately reflect on his
purity and their own vileness. That we so easily took impressions from
our company, that the Spanish proverb says, _Let a hermit and a thief
live together, the thief would become hermit, or the hermit thief_, that
he saw this verified in his ship, for he could attribute the oaths and
curses he had heard among his brave companions, to nothing but the
odious example of the Dutch: that this was not the only vice they had
introduced, for before they were on board, his men were men, but he
found by their beastly pattern they were degenerated into brutes, by
drowning that only faculty which distinguishes between men and beasts,
_reason_. That as he had the honour to command them, he could not see
them run into these odious vices without a sincere concern, as he had a
paternal affection for them; and he should reproach himself as
neglectful of the common good, if he did not admonish them; and as by
the post with which they had honoured him, he was obliged to have a
watchful eye over their general interest; he was obliged to tell them
his sentiments were, that the Dutch allured them to a dissolute way of
life, that they might take some advantage over them: wherefore, as his
brave companions, he was assured, would be guided by reason, he gave the
Dutch notice, that the first whom he caught either with an oath in his
mouth or liquor in his head, should be brought to the geers, whipped and
pickled for an example to the rest of his nation; as to his friends, his
companions, his children, those gallant, those generous, noble, and
heroic souls he had the honour to command, he entreated them to allow a
small time for reflection, and to consider how little pleasure and how
much danger, might flow from imitating the vices of their enemies; and
that they would among themselves, make a law for the suppression of what
would otherwise estrange them from the source of life, and consequently
leave them destitute of his protection.”
It is not to be imagined what efficacy this speech had on both nations;
the Dutch grew continent in fear of punishment, and the French in fear
of being reproached by their good captain, for they never mentioned him
without this epithet. Upon the coast of Angola, they met with a second
Dutch ship, the cargo of which consisted of silk and woollen stuffs,
cloth, lace, wine, brandy, oil, spice, and hardware: the prize gave
chase and engaged her, but upon the coming up of the Victoire she
struck. This ship opportunely came in their way, and gave full employ to
the tailors, who were on board; for the whole crew began to be out at
elbows; they plundered her of what was of use to their own ship, and
then sunk her.
The captain having about ninety prisoners on board, proposed the giving
them the prize with what was necessary for their voyage, and sending
them away; which being agreed to, they shifted her ammunition on board
the Victoire, and giving them provisions to carry them to the
settlements the Dutch have on the coast, Misson called them up, told
them what was his design, and asked if any of them was willing to share
his fortune: eleven Dutch came in to him, two of whom were sailmakers,
one an armourer, and one a carpenter, necessary hands; the rest he let
go, not a little surprised at the regularity, tranquility, and humanity,
which they found among these new fashioned pirates.
They had now run the length of Saldanha bay, about ten leagues to the
northward of Table Bay. As here is good water, safe riding, plenty of
fish and fresh provision, to be got of the natives for the merchandise
they had on board, it was resolved to stay here some little time for
refreshments. When they had the bay open, they spied a tall ship, which
instantly got under sail, and hove out English colours. The Victoire
made clear ship, and hove out her French ensign, and a smart engagement
began. The English was a new ship built for 40 guns, though she had but
32 mounted, and 90 hands. Misson gave orders for boarding, and the
number of fresh men he constantly poured in, after an obstinate dispute
obliged the English to fly the decks, and leave the French masters of
their ship, who promised, and gave them good quarters and stripped not a
man.
They found on board the prize some bales of English broadcloth, and
about £60,000 in English crown pieces, and Spanish pieces of eight. The
English captain was killed in the engagement, and 14 of his men: the
French lost 12, which was no small mortification, but did not however
provoke them to use their prisoners harshly. Capt. Misson was sorry for
the death of the commander, whom he buried on shore, and one of his men
being a stone-cutter, he raised a stone over his grave with these words,
“_Icy gist un brave Anglois_,” _Here lies a gallant Englishman_. When he
was buried he made a triple discharge of fifty small arms, and fired
minute guns.
The English, knowing whose hands they were fallen into, and charmed with
Misson’s humanity, 30 of them, in three days space, desired to take on
with him. He accepted them, but at the same time gave them to
understand, that in taking on with him they were not to expect they
should be indulged in a dissolute and immoral life. He now divided his
company between the two ships, and made Caraccioli captain of the prize,
giving him officers chosen by the public suffrage. The 17 negroes began
to understand a little French, and to be useful hands, and in less than
a month all the English prisoners came over to him, except their
officers.
He had two ships well manned with resolute fellows: they now doubled the
cape, and made the S. end of Madagascar, and one of the Englishmen
telling Capt. Misson, that the European ships bound for Surat, commonly
touched at the island of Johanna, he sent for Capt. Caraccioli on board,
and it was agreed to cruise off that island. They accordingly sailed on
the West side of Madagascar, and off the bay de Diego. About half seas
over, between that bay, and the island of Johanna, they came up with an
English East-Indiaman, which made signals of distress as soon as she
spied Misson and his prize, they found her sinking by an unexpected
leak, and took all her men on board, though they could get little out of
her before she went down. The English, who were thus miraculously saved
from perishing, desired to be set on shore at Johanna, where they hoped
to meet with either a Dutch or English ship in a little time, and the
mean while they were sure of relief.
They arrived at Johanna, and were kindly received by the Queen Regent
and her brother, on account of the English on the one hand, and of their
strength on the other, which the queen’s brother, who had the
administration of affairs, was not able to make head against, and hoped
they might assist him against the king of Mohila, who threatened him
with a visit.
This is an island which is contiguous, in a manner, to Johanna, and lies
about N. W. by N. from it. Caraccioli told Misson he might take his
advantage in widening the breach between these two little monarchies,
and, by offering his assistance to that of Johanna, in a manner rule
both, for these would court him as their protector, and those come to
any terms to buy his friendship, by which means he would hold the
balance of power between them. He followed this advice, and offered his
friendship and assistance to the queen, who very readily embraced it.
I must advise the reader, that many of this island speak English, and
that the Englishmen who were of Misson’s crew, and his interpreters,
told them, their captain, though not an Englishman, was their friend and
ally, and a friend and brother to the Johanna men, for they esteemed the
English beyond all other nations.
They were supplied by the queen with all necessaries of life, and Misson
married her sister, as Caraccioli did the daughter of her brother, whose
armoury, which consisted before of no more than two rusty fire-locks and
three pistols, he furnished with 30 fuzils, as many pair of pistols, and
gave him two barrels of powder and four of ball.
Several of his men took wives, and some required their share of the
prizes, which was justly given them, they designing to settle in this
island; but the number of these did not exceed ten, which loss was
repaired by thirty of the crew (they had saved from perishing) coming in
to him.
While they past their time in all manner of diversions the place would
afford them, as hunting, feasting, and visiting the island, the king of
Mohila, made a descent, and alarmed the whole country. Misson advised
the queen’s brother not to give him any impediment but let him get into
the heart of the island, and he would take care to intercept their
return; but the prince answered, should he follow this advice the enemy
would do him and his subjects an irreparable damage, in destroying the
cocoa walks, and for that reason he must endeavour to stop his progress.
Upon this answer he asked the English who were not under his command, if
they were willing to join him in repelling the enemies of their common
host, and one and all consenting, he gave them arms, and mixed them with
his own men, and about the same number of Johannians, under the command
of Caraccioli and the queen’s brother, and arming out all his boats, he
went himself to the westward of the island, where they made their
descent. The party which went by land, fell in with, and beat the
Mohilians with great ease, who were in the greatest consternation, to
find their retreat cut off by Misson’s boats. The Johannians, whom they
had often molested, were so enraged, that they gave quarter to none, and
out of 300 who made the descent, if Misson and Caraccioli had not
interposed, not a soul had escaped; 113 were taken prisoners, by his
men, and carried on board his ships. These he sent safe to Mohila, with
a message to the king, to desire he would make peace with his friend and
ally the king of Johanna; but that prince, little affected with the
service done him in the preservation of his subjects, sent him word he
took laws from none, and knew when to make war and peace without his
advice, which he neither asked nor wanted. Misson irritated by this rude
answer, resolved to transfer the war into his own country, and
accordingly set sail for Mohila, with about 100 Johanna men. The shore
on sight of the ships, was filled with men to hinder a descent if
intended, but the great guns soon dispersed this rabble, and under their
cover he landed the Johannians, and an equal number of French and
English. They were met by about 700 Mohilians, who pretended to stop
their passage, but their darts and arrows were of little avail against
Misson’s fuzils; the first discharge made a great slaughter, and about
20 shells which were thrown among them, put them to a confused flight.
The party of Europeans and Johannians then marched to their metropolis,
without resistance, which they reduced to ashes, and the Johannians cut
down all the cocoa walks that they could for the time, for towards
evening they returned to their ships, and stood off to sea.
At their return to Johanna the queen made a festival, and magnified the
bravery and service of her guests, friends, and allies. This feast
lasted four days, at the expiration of which time the queen’s brother
proposed to Capt. Misson the making another descent, in which he would
go in person, and did not doubt subjecting the Mohilians; but this was
not the design of Misson, who had thoughts of fixing a retreat on the N.
W. side of Madagascar, and looked upon the feuds between these two
islands advantageous to his views, and therefore no way his interest to
suffer the one to overcome the other; for while the variance was kept
up, and their forces pretty much upon a level, it was evident their
interest would make both sides caress him; he therefore answered, that
they ought to deliberate on the consequences, for they might be deceived
in their hopes, and find the conquest less easy than they imagined. That
the king of Mohila would be more upon his guard, and not only intrench
himself, but gall them with frequent ambuscades, by which they must
inevitably lose a number of men; and, if they were forced to retire with
loss, raise the courage of the Mohilians, and make them irreconcilable
enemies to the Johannians, and entirely deprive him of the advantages
with which he might now make a peace, having twice defeated them: that
he could not be always with them, and at his leaving Johanna he might
expect the king of Mohila would endeavour to take a bloody revenge for
the late damages. The queen gave entirely into Misson’s sentiments.
While this was in agitation, four Mohilians arrived as ambassadors to
propose a peace. Finding the Johannians upon high terms, one of them
spoke to this purpose:—_O ye Johannians, do not conclude from you late
success, that fortune will be always favourable; she will not always
give you the protection of the Europeans, and without their help it is
possible you might now sue for a peace, which you seem averse to.
Remember the sun rises, comes to its meridian height, and stays not
there, but declines in a moment. Let this admonish you to reflect on the
constant revolution of all sublunary affairs, and the greater is your
glory, the nearer you are to your declension. We are taught by every
thing we see, that there is no stability in the world, but nature is in
continual movement. The sea, which overflows the sands, has its bounds
set, which it cannot pass, which the moment it has reached, without
abiding, returns back to the bosom of the deep. Every herb, every shrub
and tree, and even our own bodies teach us this lesson, that nothing is
durable, or can be counted upon. Time passes away insensibly, one sun
follows another, and brings its changes with it. To-day’s globe of light
sees you strengthened by these Europeans elate with victory, and we, who
have been used to conquer you, come to ask a peace. To-morrow’s sun may
see you deprived of your present succours, and the Johannians
petitioning us: as therefore we cannot say what to-morrow may bring
forth, it would be unwise on uncertain hopes to forego a certain
advantage, as surely peace ought to be esteemed by every wise man._
Having said this, the ambassadors withdraw, and were treated by the
queen’s orders. After the council had concluded, they were again called
upon, and the queen told them, that by the advice of her good friends,
the Europeans, and those of her council, she agreed to make peace, which
she wished might banish all memory of former injuries; that they must
own the war was begun by them, and that she was far from being the
aggressor; she only defended herself in her own kingdom, which they had
often invaded, though, till within a few days, she had never molested
their coasts. If then they really desired to live amicably with her,
they must resolve to send two of the king’s children, and ten of the
first nobility, as hostages: that they might, when they pleased, return,
for these were the only terms on which she would desist prosecuting the
advantages she now had, with the utmost vigour.
The ambassadors returned with this answer, and, about ten days after,
the two ships appearing upon their coasts, they sent off to give notice,
that their king complied with the terms proposed, would send the
hostages, and desired a cessation of all hostility, and, at the same
time, invited the commanders on shore. The Johanna men on board
dissuaded their accepting the invitation; but Misson and Caraccioli,
fearing nothing, went, but armed their boat’s crew. They were received
by the king with demonstrations of friendship, and they dined with him
under a tamarind tree; but when they parted from him, and were returning
to their boats, they were inclosed by at least a hundred of the
Mohilians, who set upon them with the utmost fury, and, in the first
flight of arrows, wounded both the captains, and killed four of their
boat’s crew, of eight who were with them. They, in return, discharged
their pistols with some execution, and fell in with their cutlasses; but
all their bravery would have stood them in little stead, had not the
report of their pistols alarmed and brought the rest of their friends to
their assistance, who took their fuzils, and coming up while they were
engaged, discharged a volley on the back of the assailants, which laid
twelve of them dead on the spot. The ships hearing this fire, sent
immediately the yawls and long-boats well manned. Though the islanders
were a little damped in their courage by this fire of the boat’s crew,
yet they did not give over the fight, and one of them desperately threw
himself upon Caraccioli, and gave him a deep wound in the side with a
long knife; but he paid for the rashness of the attempt with his life,
one of the crew cleaving his scull. The yawls and long-boats now
arrived, and being guided by the noise, reinforced their companions, put
the traitors to flight, and brought off their dead and wounded. The
Europeans lost by this treachery, seven slain outright, and eight
wounded, six of which recovered.
The crew were resolved to revenge the blood of their officers and
comrades the next day, and were accordingly on the point of landing,
when two canoes came off with two men bound, the pretended authors of
this treason, without the king’s knowledge, who had sent them that they
might receive the punishment due to their villany. The Johanna men on
board were called for interpreters, who having given this account,
added, that the king only sacrificed these men, but that they should not
believe him, for he certainly had given orders for assassinating the
Europeans; and the better way was to kill all the Mohilians that came in
the canoes, as well as the two prisoners; go back to Johanna, take more
of their countrymen, and give no peace to traitors; but Misson was for
no such violent measures; he was averse to every thing that bore the
face of cruelty, and thought a bloody revenge, if necessity did not
enforce it, spoke a grovelling and timid soul: he, therefore, sent those
of the canoes back, and bid them tell their king, if before the evening
he sent the hostages agreed upon, he should give credit to his excuse;
but if he did not, he should believe him the author of the late vile
attempt on his life.
The canoes went off, but returned not with an answer; wherefore, he bid
the Johanna men tell the two prisoners that they should be set on shore
the next morning, and ordered them to acquaint their king, he was no
executioner to put those to death whom he had condemned, but that he
should find he knew how to revenge himself of his treason. The prisoners
being unbound, threw themselves at his feet, and begged that he would
not send them ashore, for they should be surely put to death, for the
crime they had committed, was, the dissuading the barbarous action of
which they were accused as authors.
Next day, the two ships landed 200 men, under the cover of their cannon;
but that precaution of bringing their ships close to the shore, they
found needless: not a soul appearing, they marched two leagues up the
country, when they saw a body of men appear behind some shrubs.
Caraccioli’s lieutenant, who commanded the right wing, with fifty men,
made up to them, but found he had got among pit-falls artificially
covered, several of his men falling into them, which made him halt, and
not pursue those Mohilians who made a feint retreat to ensnare him,
thinking it dangerous to proceed farther; and seeing no enemy would face
them, they retired the same way they came, and getting into their boats,
went on board the ships, resolving to return with a strong
reinforcement, and make descents at one and the same time in different
parts of the island. They asked the two prisoners how the country lay,
and what the soil was on the north side of the island; and they answered
it was morass, and the most dangerous part to attempt, it being a place
where they shelter on any imminent danger.
The ships returned to Johanna, where the greatest tenderness and care
was shown for the recovery and cure of the two captains and of their
men; they lay six weeks before they were able to walk the decks, for
neither of them would quit his ship. Their Johanna wives expressed a
concern they did not think them capable of; nay, a wife of one of the
wounded men who died, stood some time looking upon the corpse as
motionless as a statue, then embracing it, without shedding a tear,
desired she might take it ashore to wash and bury it; and at the same
time by an interpreter, and with a little mixture of European language,
begged her late husband’s friends would take their leave of him the next
day.
Accordingly a number went ashore, and carried with them the dividend,
which fell to his share, which the captain ordered to be given to his
widow; when she saw the money, she smiled, and asked if all that was for
her?—Being answered in the affirmative, “and what good will all that
shining dirt do me? If I could with it purchase the life of my husband,
and call him back from the grave, I would accept it with pleasure, but
as it is not sufficient to allure him back to this world, I have no use
for it; do with it what you please.” Then she desired they would go with
her and perform the last ceremonies to her husband’s dead body, after
their country fashion, lest he should be displeased; that she could not
stay with them, to be a witness, because she was in haste to go and be
married again. She startled the Europeans who heard this latter part of
her speech, so dissonant from the beginning; however they followed her,
and she led them into a plantain walk, where they found a great many
Johanna men and women, sitting under the shade of plantains, round the
corpse, which lay (as they all sat) on the ground, covered with flowers.
She embraced them round, and then the Europeans, one by one, and after
these ceremonies, she poured out a number of bitter imprecations against
the Mohila men, whose treachery had darkened her husband’s eyes, and
made him insensible of her caresses, who was her first love, to whom she
had given her heart with her virginity. She then proceeded in his
praises, calling him the joy of infants, the love of virgins, the
delight of the old, and the wonder of the young, adding, he was strong
and beautiful as the cedar, brave as the bull, tender as the kid, and
loving as the ground turtle. Having finished this oration, not unlike
those of the Romans, which the nearest relation of the deceased used to
pronounce from the rostrum, she laid down by the side of her husband,
embracing him, and sitting up again, gave herself a deep wound under the
left breast with a bayonet, and fell dead on her husband’s corpse.
The Europeans were astonished at the tenderness and the resolution of
the girl, for she was not, by what her mien spoke her, past seventeen;
and they now admired, as much as they had secretly detested her, for
saying she was in haste to be married again, the meaning of which they
did not understand.
After the husband and wife were buried, the crew returned on board, and
gave an account of what had passed; the captains’ wives (for Misson and
his were on board the Bijoux, the name they had given their prize from
her make and gilding) seemed not in the least surprised, and
Caraccioli’s lady only said, she must be of noble descent, for none but
the families of the nobility had the privilege allowed them of following
their husbands, on pain if they transgressed, of being thrown into the
sea, to be eat by fish; and they knew that their souls could not rest as
long as any of the fish, who fed upon them, lived. Misson asked, if they
intended to have done the same thing had they died? “We should not,”
answered his wife, “have disgraced our families; nor is our tenderness
for our husbands inferior to hers whom you seem to admire.”
After their recovery, Misson proposed a cruise, on the coast of
Zanguebar, which being agreed to, he and Caraccioli, took leave of the
queen and her brother, and would have left their wives on the island,
but they could by no means be induced to the separation; it was in vain
to urge the shortness of the time they were to cruise; they answered it
was not farther than Mohila they intended to go, and if they were
miserable in that short absence, they could never support a longer; and
if they would not allow them to keep them company in the voyage, they
must not expect to see them at their return, if they intended one.
In a word, they were obliged to yield to them, but told them, if the
views of their men should insist as strongly on following their example,
their tenderness would be their ruin, and make them a prey to their
enemies; they answered, the queen should prevent that, by ordering that
no woman should go on board, and if any were in the ships, they should
return on shore: this order was accordingly made, and they set sail for
the river Mozambique. In about ten days’ cruise after they had left
Johanna, and about 15 leagues to the eastward of this river, they fell
in with a stout Portuguese ship of 60 guns, which engaged them from
break of day till two in the afternoon, when the captain being killed,
and a great number of men lost, she struck; this proved a very rich
prize, for she had the value of £250,000 sterling on board, in gold
dust. The two women never quit the decks all the time of the engagement,
neither gave they the least mark of fear except for their husbands. This
engagement cost them 30 men, and Caraccioli lost his right leg; the
slaughter fell mostly on the English, for of the above number, 20 were
of that nation: the Portuguese lost double the number. Caraccioli’s
wound made them resolve to make the best of their way for Johanna, where
the greatest care was taken of their wounded, not one of whom died,
though their number amounted to 27.
Caraccioli kept his bed two months; but Misson seeing him in a fair way
of recovery, took what hands could be spared from the Bijoux, leaving
her sufficient for defence, and went out, having mounted ten of the
Portuguese guns, for he had hitherto carried but thirty, though he had
ports for forty. He stretched over to Madagascar, and coasted along this
island to the northward, as far as the most northerly point, when
turning back, he entered a bay to the northward of Diego Suares. He run
ten leagues up this bay, and on the larboard side found it afforded a
large, and safe harbour, with plenty of fresh water. He came to an
anchor, went on shore and examined the nature of the soil, which he
found rich, the air wholesome, and the country level. He told his men
this was an excellent place for an asylum, and that he determined here
to fortify and raise a small town, and make docks for shipping, that
they might have some place to call their own; and a receptacle, when age
or wounds had rendered them incapable of hardship, where they might
enjoy the fruits of their labour, and go to their graves in peace: that
he would not, however, set about this, till he had the approbation of
the whole company; and were he sure they would all approve this design,
which he hoped, it being evidently for the general good, he should not
think it advisable to begin any works, lest the natives should, in his
absence, destroy them; but, however, as they had nothing upon their
hands, if they were of his opinion, they might begin to fall and square
timber, ready for the raising a wooden fort, when they returned with
their companions.
The captain’s motion was universally applauded, and in ten days they
felled and rough hewed a hundred and fifty large trees, without any
interruption from or seeing any of the inhabitants. They felled their
timber at the waters’ edge, so that they had not the trouble of hauling
them any way, which would have employed a great deal more time: they
returned again, and acquainted their companions with what they had seen
and done, and with the captain’s resolution, which they one and all came
into.
Capt. Misson then told the queen, as he had been serviceable to her in
her war with the island of Mohila, and might continue to be of farther
use, he did not question her lending him assistance in the settling
himself on the coast of Madagascar, and to that end furnish him with 300
men, to help in his buildings. The queen answered, she could do nothing
without consent of council, and that she would assemble her nobility,
and did not question their agreeing to anything he could reasonably
desire, for they were sensible of the obligations the Johannians had to
him. The council was accordingly called, and Misson’s demand being told,
one of the eldest said, he did not think it expedient to comply with it,
nor safe to refuse; that they should in agreeing to give him that
assistance, help to raise a power, which might prove formidable to
themselves, by the being so near a neighbour; and these men who had
lately protected, might, when they found it for their interest, enslave
them. On the other hand, if they did not comply, they had the power to
do them great damage: that they were to make choice of the least of two
possible evils, for he could prognosticate no good to Johanna, by their
settling near it. Another answered, that many of them had Johanna wives:
that it was not likely they would make enemies of the Johanna men at the
first settling, because their friendship might be of use to them; and
from their children there was nothing to be apprehended in the next
generation, for they would be half their own blood; that in the mean
while, if they complied with the request, they might be sure of an ally
and protector against the king of Mohila; wherefore, he was for agreeing
to the demand.
After a long debate, in which every inconvenience and advantage was
maturely considered, it was agreed to send with him the number of men he
required, on condition he should send them back in four moons, make an
alliance with them, and war against Mohila. This being agreed to, they
staid till Caraccioli was thoroughly recovered: then putting the
Johannians on board the Portuguese ship, with forty French and English,
and fifteen Portuguese to work her, and setting sail, they arrived at
the place where Misson designed his settlement, which he called
_Libertatia_, and gave the name of _Liberi_ to his people, desiring in
that might be drowned the distinguished names of French, English, Dutch,
Africans, &c.
The first thing they set about was, the raising a fort on each side the
harbour, which they made of an octagon figure, and having finished and
mounted them with forty guns taken out of the Portuguese, they raised a
battery on an angle, of ten guns, and began to raise houses and
magazines under the protection of their forts and ships; the Portuguese
was unrigged, and all her sails and cordage carefully laid up. While
they were very busily employed in the raising a town, a party which had
often hunted and rambled four or five leagues off their settlement,
resolved to venture farther into the country. They made themselves some
huts, at about four leagues distance from their companions, and
travelled E. S. E. about five leagues farther into the country, when
they came up with a black, who was armed with a bow, arrows, and a
javelin: they with a friendly appearance engaged the fellow to lay by
his fear, and go with them. They carried him to their companions, and
there entertained him three days with a great deal of humanity, and then
returned with him near the place they found him, and made him a present
of a piece of scarlet baize, and an axe. He appeared overjoyed with the
present, and left them with seeming satisfaction.
The hunters imagined that there might be some village not far off, and
observing that he looked at the sun, and then took his way directly
south, they travelled on the same point of the compass, and from the top
of a hill they spied a pretty large village, and went down to it: the
men came out with their arms, such as before described, bows, arrows,
and javelins; but upon two only of the whites advancing, with presents
of axes and baize in their hands, they sent only four to meet them. The
misfortune was, that they could not understand one another: but by their
pointing to the sun, and holding up one finger, and making one of them
go forward, and return again with showing their circumcision, and
pointing up to heaven with one finger, they apprehended they gave them
to understand there was but one God, who had sent one prophet, and
concluded from thence, and their circumcision, they were Mahometans. The
presents were carried to their chief, and he seemed to receive them
kindly, and by signs invited the whites into their village; but they
remembering the late treachery of the Mohilians, made signs for victuals
to be brought to them where they were.
☞ _The remainder of Captain Misson’s History will be found incorporated
with that of Captain Tew._