They came in with the Land, and cast Anchor on the ninth of _November_,

the Year before-mentioned; the Tenth it blew hard, but on the Eleventh

the Weather being pretty fair, the Captain sent the Yawl on Shore, in

two different Places, at considerable Distance from each other, they

found the Land every where sandy, and all over green with Shrubs, but

saw no Houses, nor could they discover the least Track of any human

Creature; however, they saw Deer, but could not come near enough to have

a Shot at them; they also found the Dung of Wolves, Hares, and some

other Animals, but saw none; and near the Water-side they found the

Shells of a great Number of Craw-Fish, but met with none alive;

wherefore, they guessed that they were left here by some Creatures, who

fished them up and usually fed upon them.

Finding this Place altogether inhospitable, they weigh'd Anchor and

sail'd along the Shore, till the 17th of the same Month, when the

Captain looking thro' his Spying-glass, saw three or four Men walking

along the Sea-Side, and sometimes sitting down, but could not discern

any House, Fire, or Smoak, but when they had sail'd about a League

farther, they perceived an Inlet or Bay, where the Captain fancied there

might be a River; he could also perceive several tall Trees, which were

the first they had seen since they came upon the Coast, which made the

Captain conjecture, that there must be some Inhabitants.

Upon this, they came to an Anchor, and manning out the Boat, the Captain

sent Mr. _Baldwin_ the third Mate in her, to go into the Bay, in order

to discover whether there was any River which discharged itself into it;

when they were in with the Shore, they perceived about fifty or sixty

People standing upon a Bank near the Water-side, and one separating

himself from the Rest, approached nearer to them, and held up a white

Piece of Linnen at the End of a Stick, and waved it at them, which they

understood to be a Flag of Friendship, and which the Boat answered by

the like Signal; then the Person on Shore beckon'd to them with his

Hand, which they took to be an Invitation to come on Shore, and

accordingly they ventured; there were two of the Boat's Men who spoke a

little _Portuguese_, who saluted this Man in that Language; as soon as

they came near him, his Gesture appeared very civil, but they could not

understand a Syllable of what he said in Answer, but by his Signs, they

fancied he invited them to come to their Huts, in order to eat and

drink.

However, they did not think fit to stay longer at this Time, but

returned on Board, to give the Captain an Account of what had pass'd,

and to let him know, that they could discover no River in the Bay; they

described the People to be pretty tall and well made, their Colour jet

black, their Heads and Beards close shaved, wearing upon their Heads

Turbants made of a Kind of Linnen, and a Sort of Sash made of Dungeree

Linnen about their Wastes, the Rest of their Bodies being quite naked;

whereupon, consulting with a Molotto, one of the Ship's Company, who

understood the _Turkish_ and _Arabian_ Languages, what he thought the

Language of these People might be, he judg'd it to be a Kind of

corrupted _Arabick_, because their Dress was not unlike that of the

_Arabians_ of the Desert, and that it was not unlikely, but that they

might be some Way descended from them; wherefore, the Captain resolved

to mann the Boat again, and to send the Molotto ashore with them, to try

if he could so far understand their Language, as to learn from them,

where there was fresh Water, or any other Refreshments to be had; and

also to enquire for some Port or Bay, where the Ship might be with

Safety till the breaking up of those Easterly Winds.

The Wind blew so fresh all that Day, which was the 19th, that they could

not send the Boat on Shore. At Night they watched to see if they could

discover any Appearance of Fire any where upon Land, but they could

discern nothing like it; wherefore, it seemed strange to them, that in a

Country inhabited, there should be neither Smoak by Day, nor Fire by

Night, which made them suppose, the Huts of the Natives were far up the

Country.

However, the next Day the Boat was sent on Shore with the Molotto

Interpreter, and Mr. _Courser_ the fourth Mate; and for Fear of any

Surprize, the Captain ordered them to carry Arms in the Boat. When they

approach'd near the Shore, several of the Natives made towards the

Waterside, but seeing the Boat's Men take their Arms in their Hands at

their Landing, they fled affrighted up the Country, nor would they ever

come near them after; the Men went a little Way up the Land and met with

some Huts, which were covered with the Shells of Turtles, which

Creatures it is supposed the Natives catch in their proper Season for

Food, and then making a Covering of their Shells for their Houses; they

also saw several Cows, at some Distance, which are very swift at

running, and not larger than our Deer; they saw some other Animals, but

took none, and so returned on Board without gaining any Intelligence.

The Mistake here was, that they did not lye off with their Boat, and

make a Signal as they did at first, which would have disposed the

Natives to have staid for them, as they did before, but going ashore

abruptly with Arms in their Hands, frighten'd the Natives, as if they

had come to kill them; wherefore, there was no Expectation of making any

Discovery here, which induced the Captain to weigh Anchor, and steer a

little farther Westward.

The next Morning, which was the twenty second, they came to an Anchor,

and sent their Boat on Shore again, with Mr. _Baldwin_ the third Mate,

and the Gunner; there being some high Hills not far from the Place where

they landed, the Mate and Gunner resolved to walk to the Top of one of

the highest of those Hills, in order to take a View of the Country

beneath. About four in the Afternoon they returned again to the Ship,

bringing Word, that there was a pleasant Valley on the other Side, about

five Miles in Length, and near as far in Breadth, but that they could

see no Houses or other Signs of Inhabitants, but that the Valley seemed

to abound with Deer, and several other Creatures; they brought on Board

three Antilopes, and two large Guiney Hens, which they shot, and saw

great Numbers of both these Creatures about the Bushes on the Sides of

those Hills; the Antilopes were small, but extreamly beautiful, their

Bodies no bigger than that of a Hare, but their Legs much longer, their

Colour was a Mixture of black and white, very smooth, and very bright,

with Horns about three Inches long.

They weigh'd and crept along ashore to the Westward, and next Day, which

was the Twenty third, the Captain with his Spying-glass saw seven or

eight Men near the Shore; wherefore, he sent the Boat to endeavour to

speak with them. As soon as they saw the Boat approach them, they went

off; the Men however went on Shore, and at some Distance saw two Camels

and two Asses loaden, pass along with Men attending them; they did what

they could to speak with these too, but when they perceived the Boat's

Men to make towards them, they drove so fast there was no coming near

them.

The next Morning the Weather being clearer than ordinary, the Captain

looking thro' his Glass, fancied he saw several tall Spires to the

Westward; he weigh'd Anchor, and stood away for them; by four in the

Afternoon, he plainly perceived a large Town, and by six came to an

Anchor right over against it; however, he did not send the Boat on Shore

that Night, but next Morning he ordered Mr. _Baldwin_ the third Mate,

Mr. _Sale_ the Purser, with the Molotto before-mentioned, who spoke the

_Turkish_ and _Arabian_ Languages, to take the Yawl with four Hands, and

to carry with them a white Flag, that they might appear to come in a

friendly and peaceable Manner, charging them at the same Time to say or

do nothing which might appear harsh or offensive. The Boat was no sooner

in with the Shore, but the Natives flock'd as it were to meet them, and

appeared very courteous: The Molotto spoke to them in _Arabian_ Tongue,

giving them to understand, that they were driven upon their Coasts by

the Misfortune of having lost their Voyage, that they were in Want of

Water, and begg'd they would shew them where they might be supplied, and

that if they would think fit to furnish them with fresh Provision they

would pay them in Money, or any Goods or Curiosities of _Europe_.

It happened the Language they spoke was a Kind of _Arabick_, so that the

Molotto could discourse with them perfectly well; they answered him,

that the King was absent from the City, and that they could do nothing

till his Return, but that he would be there as that Night, for they had

sent him Word of the coming of a Ship, as soon as it appeared in Sight.

That however, they might assure themselves, that all they requested

should be granted, and shewed them where there were several fine Springs

of Water: These Springs being a pretty Way from the Water-side, and the

Ground near them craggy and uneven; the Molotto told them it would be

difficult to rowl their Casks so long a Way, and over such bad Ground,

and ask'd them if there were not any Spring nearer the Sea. They

answered them no, but that the King would give them Oxen to draw their

Casks to the Boat; and so they returned on Board with a Present from the

King's Son of a Sarne of mash'd Dates, a matted Jar of Sweet-Meats, and

four Sheep.

Betimes the next Morning, being the 26th, the Captain sent the Yawl on

Shore again with the same Officers, to know if the King was come, and to

beg Leave to bring on Board some fresh Water, ordering them to make a

Signal for the Long-Boat to be sent on Shore, in Case they obtained the

Permission to water; the Yawl had not been long gone before the

appointed Signal was made, and the Long-Boat was accordingly sent

immediately; after which, the Captain perceived the Yawl was returning

back again to the Ship: She came with four Hands in her to advise the

Captain, that the Long-Boat would immediately return with a Cow as a

Present to him, and to put him in Mind, that it would be proper to send

something back for a Present to the _Shubander_, (the Name by which they

call the King's Son) with whom they, _viz._ the third Mate Mr.

_Baldwin_, the Gunner, and the Molotto Interpreter, who served in the

Ship as a Quartier, were gone to dine.

The Captain was surprized at their Indiscretion, and the more because he

had ordered them, to be upon their Guard for Fear of Treachery, having

furnished them with Arms for that Purpose, and charged them not to stir

far from their Boat; however, there was no Remedy now, so that he sent

the Yawl back again with a Present of a small Looking-glass (a great

Curiosity there) for the Prince, ordering one Man to carry it, and to

tell the Mate, Gunner, and Molotto to come off as soon as they could,

the rest to lye a little off with the Yawl, their Arms ready, but out of

Sight.

The Captain observing the Yawl with his Glass, perceived the Men

contrary to his Orders were gone on Shore, and looking again a little

after, saw the Boat without a Mast, or so much as one Hand in her,

drag'd towards the Town quite on Shore, and in a little Time after she

was hawl'd out of Sight.

This Rashness of his Men gave him a great Deal of Uneasiness, he

apprehended some fatal Consequence from it, (and indeed he had Reason)

for he knew the Natives of some Part of the Coast were Cannibals;

therefore, for Fear of venturing too much at once, he resolved not to

trust the Long-Boat on Shore, till he had some Tideings from the Yawl.

All that Day he pass'd with the utmost Uneasiness, keeping a Man

continually on the Watch, looking towards the Shore with a Spying-glass,

to try if any Thing could be discovered of his Men on the Shore, but all

to no Purpose; for nothing could be discerned either of them or the Boat

the whole Day. That Night was spent in many doubtful Reflections, and

Tears for the Condition of those who were on Shore. Next Morning the

Captain resolved to send the Long-Boat towards the Land, with Mr. _Nyn_

his first Mate, and some other of his Officers in her, ordering them to

shew a white Flag, as soon as they should discover any People to come

near them; but not to venture to go ashore, but to talk and make Signs

to the Natives out of the Boat, and to try to discover the Reason of our

Mens being detained; and in Case they found they kept them Prisoners, or

intended them for Slaves, to try by Means of the Molotto Interpreter to

treat with them for their Ransom.

Mr. _Nyn_ obey'd his Orders punctually, and when he came near the Land

he lay by, with a white Flag display'd at the End of a Mast, at which

Time he observed a great Body of People coming from the Town towards the

Sea-Side; the Captain could also discern them from the Ship with his

Spying-glass, and judg'd them to be betwixt four and five Thousand, but

instead of coming to parley, they marched in a Body behind a Bank, which

stood opposite the Boat, where they lay in a Kind of Ambuscade, without

returning any Signal, or shewing any Inclination to speak with the Boat.

This look'd plainly, as if they intended to surprize the Men, in Case

they should venture to land; wherefore Mr. _Nyn_ resolved to return on

Board, and plying along Shore, in order to find the Passage thro' the

Ridge of Rocks of Coral, which runs along ashore, the Natives let fly a

Shower of Arrows at the Boat, which however did no Harm, because they

fell short; upon which Mr. _Nyn_ commanded his Men to fire their Arms

towards the Banks, in order to frighten them, for being so intrench'd,

he knew he could do them no Harm; after which he returned on Board.

The Captain now began to despair of ever seeing his Men more; the best

he could think which could befal them, was, to be made Slaves, for still

he did not apprehend that they had met with so melancholy and cruel a

Fate, as their Confidence in the Natives had really brought upon them;

he therefore resolved to make one Attempt more, in order to learn some

News of what had befallen them: In order to which, he thought of a

Stratagem, by which he should run no Hazard of losing any more of his

Men, and by which it seemed probable he must hear of them if they were

alive. He writ a Letter, which Letter he caused to be fix'd to the Top

of a long Pole, which he ordered to be carried on Shore in the Silence

of the Night; the Men were to fix the Pole in the Ground, and to make it

the more conspicuous, there was a Flag also fastened to the Pole.

He did not doubt, but that if any of his Men had the Liberty of walking

about, they would come for the Letter which they must see, and if they

had not that Liberty, the Natives not being able to read it themselves,

would carry it to them.

In this Letter he advised Mr. _Baldwin_, and Mr. _Sale_, the third Mate

and Purser, to treat about their own Ransom themselves, and that of the

five Men with them (including the Molotto) and since there was no other

Way of procuring their Liberty, he would comply with the Terms, let them

be what they would; he directed them to fix their Answer upon the same

Pole, and least they should want Pen and Ink, he inclosed a Pencil, and

also a Sheet of Paper. And in Hopes an Answer should be left, he

commanded the Pole to be fix'd just at the Waters Edge, where there was

no Bank near, that it might be taken off without the Danger of an

Ambuscade.

This was the best Expedient he could think of, for relieving his unhappy

Countrymen, who now, alas! were past all Relief. Accordingly the Boat

was sent with the said Letter, and two of the Men went on Shore and

fixed it, and having returned into the Boat, the Boat put off, and came

to an Anchor at some Distance from the Shore, in order to observe what

should become of the Letter; they waited till Noon to no Purpose, then

taking up their Anchor, in order to come on Board for some Refreshment,

they were but a little while under Sail, when they saw a Man come and

carry off the Pole; a little while after which, as they ply'd along the

Shore, and were opposite to the Bank before described, they were saluted

with a Volley of Musquet-Shot, one Ball falling into the Boat, and

several others come very near it; wherefore, they made all the Sail they

could to give the Captain an Account of what had pass'd.

The Fire Arms they made use of were these they found in the Boat, where

they also met with six Cartouch Boxes full of Charges, and their making

use of them in this Manner, convinced the Captain that they had no Mind

to come to any Parley with them, or to listen to any Terms about the

Release of their unhappy Ship Mates; however they were continually upon

the Watch, looking out with wishing Eyes, in Expectation of seeing the

appointed Signal made for the Answer of the Letter; long they expected

to no Purpose, which made the Captain think something very fatal had

happened to them, and that he should never see them more; but in the

midst of his Despair, a Thought came into his Head, which administred to

him a little Comfort, he fancied that perhaps they might be carried up

the Country, to the Place where the King at that Time was gone, and that

the Natives might send the Letter after them, which might be the Reason

there was no Answer yet left. Upon this little Glimmering of Hope, he

resolved to wait some Days longer, for he was willing to lay Hold of any

Hope, rather than bear the Thoughts of going away without them.

Thus Day after Day they waited in Expectation of some Answer, sending

the Boat to lye off near the Shore, to be ready in Case any Signal

should be made.--One Day they perceived a great Number of People to come

out of the Town, and make towards the Shore, which gave them an

Expectation that the Delivery of their Friends was at Hand; they watched

their Motions with earnest Eyes, hoping every Minute to see a Flag of

Truce, instead of which, they observed them to march directly behind the

Bank, where they seem'd to place themselves in a Kind of Ambuscade.

Now there seem'd to be an End of all their Hopes, the Boat return'd on

Board, and made a Report to the Captain of what they saw, who calling a

Consultation of all his Officers to hear if any Thing could be offered

for the Relief of their Companions; it was proposed by one to send the

Boat on Shore, to burn some Junks which were hawl'd up about a

Musquet-Shot from the Water-side, but the Captain considered, that tho'

this might gratifie their Revenge, it would bring no Relief to their

poor captive Friends: On the contrary, the Natives might be provoked to

destroy them for it, if they had not done it already, besides as these

Junks lay not far from the Bank, their Men might be exposed to the

Arrows of the Natives (who now lay in continual Ambuscade) and so they

might run the Hazard of losing more Men without the least Advantage to

themselves, or unhappy Companions.

Wherefore, this Project was laid aside, and the Winds often blowing

hard, and the Captain not judging it safe to lye any longer in that open

Road, he weighed Anchor on the fourth of _December_, steering along

ashore, in Search of some Bay or Inlet, where they might ride shelter'd

from the Wind and Weather; and still with a View that if either their

Companions might have an Opportunity of making their Escape, or the

Natives should relent and think of letting them go for a Ransom, they

might be near enough to receive them. After about three or four Hours

gentle Sail he dropp'd an Anchor, the Town of _Magadoxa_ then bearing N

E b'E of them, they perceived it was all along a flat smooth Shore,

without any Bay or other Shelter, for Ships to ride; wherefore, the next

Day, which was the fifth of _December_, they stood off to Sea, and then

came to a Consultation, what Measures to take in their present

Condition; and having considered that they had met with no Place where

they could ride with any Safety, and if they should meet with a

convenient Bay much farther down the Coast, it would be of no Service to

their unhappy Companions, who would never hear of them; and besides they

could not venture to traffick with the Natives for Refreshments, for

Fear of Surprize and Treachery; and their Men beginning to grow weak and

distempered for want of fresh Provisions, they resolved to make for the

Island of _Joanna_, being forced to leave their Companions to

Providence, in great Trouble and Anxiety for their unhappy Fate.

We shall leave them to pursue their Voyage, which was happy enough,

bating this Accident, and relate what had pass'd on Shore, as we had it

from a Manuscript, written by the Molotto Interpreter, who was the only

Person who escaped, and return'd to _England_, after he had lived

sixteen Years amongst the Barbarians.

It has been already taken Notice that Mr. _Baldwin_ the third Mate, and

Mr. _Sale_ the Purser (unhappily for them) not observing the Cautions

the Captain gave them to be upon their Guard, were so indiscreet, to be

tempted to accept of an Invitation to dine with the King's Son; so that

having sent the Yawl on Board again, for a Present as has been related,

they with the Molotto Interpreter went towards the Town, accompanied by

several of the Natives, who made them the Invitation in the Name of the

King's Son. They were no sooner arrived at the first Gate of the City,

but they were surrounded by a great Multitude of People, and violently

dragg'd into a little Door under the Gateway, and shut up in a dark

Hole. When they had remained here about the Space of two Hours, they

heard a very great Noise without; soon after which, the Doors leading to

their Dungeon were all opened, and they were dragg'd out again; when

they were out, they found that what occasioned that great Noise, was the

Return of their Men, whom they had sent on Board for a Present for the

King's Son, who were seized in the same Manner they had been, and being

encompassed by such a Number of People, they lost them in a Minute; they

were also separated from one another, and the Molotto desiring to know

of them the Meaning of all this, and in what they had offended them,

they only answered him, that they must go before the _Accabo_, (the Name

by which they call the King, who had not been out of Town as they gave

out before) accordingly he was conducted with a sufficient Guard,

expecting there to meet his Companions again.

When he arrived at the King's House (which shall be hereafter described)

he was led thro' several Rooms to that where the King was present, whom

he found sitting upon the Ground, the Floor being matted; he was dress'd

in a long Pair of Drawers of blewish purple Silk, which reach'd down to

his Toes, having neither Shoes nor Stockings on, a large Mantle of the

same Silk, and a white Turbant on his Head; there were eight others who

sat about him, whose Dress was the same with his, as to Form and

Fashion, but their Drawers and Mantles were made of a blew and white

strip'd Dungeree Stuff, instead of Silk; these were his Councellors and

Favourites. The King spoke to him in a Kind of _Arabick_, asking of what

Country he was? he answered of _Canton_ in _China_. Then he ask'd him,

how he came to associate himself with those horrid white Men? The poor

Molotto began to tremble at this Question, but excus'd himself by

speaking in their Favour, highly extolling them for their Civility of

Behaviour, as well as Generosity, and praising them in all Things to the

King, telling him, he was sure the Captain would ransom them, if it was

his Pleasure to consent to it; to which he returned no Answer, but ask'd

what the Ship had in her, the Molotto gave him an Account of her Lading;

then he desired to know whether the rest of the Men would come on Shore,

he answered, he could not tell, but in Case they were suffered to return

again on Board, he was sure they would come on Shore, and that the

Captain himself designed to come and see the King, as soon as they

should return; but the King made no Offer of suffering that, but

commanded him to be carried back to Prison.

The Prison which they call _Haulaub_, is a square Stone-Building, about

twenty Foot high, and flat at Top, fronting one of their broadest

Streets; there are no Windows or Iron Bars, as we see in our Prisons,

but there are several little Holes about eight or nine Inches square,

quite thro' the Wall, thro' which, the Place within receives both Light

and Air. Here the poor Molotto was put, very anxious about the Fate of

his poor Companions, whom he had not seen since their being separated at

their first coming out of the Dungeon; wherefore, seeing an old Man

looking thro' one of the Holes before described, he enquired of him what

was become of them, who gave him this melancholy Account; that those who

came last out of the Boat, which were the four Sailors sent on Board the

Ship for the Present for the King's Son, were kill'd in the Streets by

the Multitude, and that making some Resistance, they were torn to

Pieces, every Man thinking himself happy that could procure a Piece of

their Flesh, shewing a Bit of about two Ounces, which he begg'd of one

who had got a great Piece, which many of them eat; that they were all

from their Childhood taught to have an Aversion to white Men, and that

these were the first that had been seen in the Memory of Man, that as to

the tall Man and the little Man which had been in the Dungeon with him

(which were Mr. _Baldwin_ and Mr. _Sale_, the Mate and Purser) they were

by the King's Order carried to the _Boderzau_ (a Place where Tygers and

other fierce Beasts are kept for the King's Pleasure) and delivered up

to be torn to Pieces by those Animals.

This was in Effect, the true Account of the most bloody Massacre that

was committed upon these unhappy Men; the Story of which, it may be

imagined, must throw the poor Molotto into the utmost Consternation and

Fear, as imagining himself to be near suffering some cruel Death;

sometimes he flattered himself that they would spare him, because of his

being a Molotto, but on the other Side, when he reflected on his having

given the white Men a good Character, he look'd upon himself to be a

dead Man, thinking that alone was sufficient to destroy him.

Betwixt these Doubts and Fears he pass'd the Night, in a Place all

covered with Nastiness, where there was not the least Conveniency for

easing Nature, and where, had his Mind been at rest, it would have been

hard for him to have slept. In the Morning a Man look'd thro' one of the

Holes, and with great Joy in his Countenance, told him, there were more

white Men coming on Shore; the Fellow did not relate it as good News to

him, but told it for the Pleasure they should have in destroying more of

them. The Molotto wish'd within himself, that he could have given Notice

of what had pass'd, and some Advice to beware of themselves, but it was

safest for him to keep his Wishes to himself; therefore he said nothing.

Some Hours after he was sent to go again before the King; now he thought

his Execution was at Hand, but when he was brought into the King's

Presence, they put a Letter into his Hand, commanding him to tell what

it meant, for that those who had come on Shore had stuck it upon a Pole,

and went off before they could be spoke to. He saw at one Cast of an

Eye, that it was from the Captain, who talk'd of Ransom, and a sudden

Thought came into his Head, that if he had explained it to the King,

they would make him some Way instrumental, in decoying more of the Men

on Shore, in order to murder them; and knowing his Companions to be past

all Ransom, he said he did not know the Ways of the white Men, and could

not understand what that meant. The King then ask'd him if he could

persuade the white Men, who were at that Time lying at an Anchor, in

their Boat some Distance from the Land, to come on Shore, he answered he

would endeavour to do it, if it was his Pleasure; upon which the King

whisper'd with some others, who were near him, but said no more of it,

as being unwilling to trust him. And the Truth on't is, he designed to

tell them what had pass'd, and if the Natives did not hold him fast, to

throw himself into the Sea, and venture to swim to them, not doubting,

but those in the Boat might with their Fire Arms, secure him from being

pursued, but they gave no Opportunity of making the Attempt.

The King then call'd for one of the Fire-Arms, which had been taken in

the Boat, and commanded him to shew them how they were to be used, which

he was forced to do; and they made use of them soon after, by firing at

the Boat as has been related. He was then carried back to Prison, and

talking with the Jaylor (whom in their Language they call _Kasboo_) he

ask'd him what he thought the King intended to do with him? The Jaylor

answered, he was sure he did not intend to have him kill'd, as the white

Men had been, because he had ordered him to give him Food; this News a

little revived his drooping Spirits, accordingly he brought him some

Plantanes and Bonanas, which was the first Nourishment he had taken

since he came on Shore; and having refreshed himself therewith, and with

an _Alabo_ of Water, that is, a Vessel not unlike a Pitcher, he begg'd

for something to clean the Place, the Jaylor brought him a Parcel of

green Sticks tied together, which they call a _Tosee_, and serves for

the Use of a Broom; with this and a Thing like a Shovel, he made a Shift

to sweeten the Place pretty well; when it was done, he observed an old

Man looking thro' one of the Holes at him, with whom he fell into

Discourse, and enquired of him whether the Ship was gone, the old Man

told him no, but that there was another Boat with white Men lying off

the Land, and that there were great Numbers of People from the Town

lying in Wait for their coming on Shore. He begg'd this old Man to get

him a few Palmatu Leaves to lay on the Floor under him, which the old

Man did, so that that Night he rested very comfortably to what he had

done before.

The next Morning he was again sent for before the King, who ask'd him,

if he could kill a _Coway_ with one of those Musquets? he answered he

could, and glad he was to be so employed, thinking by these Means he

might please the King, at least gain his Favour so far, as to induce him

to spare his Life. He was led out to the River-side, the King himself

being in Company, and one of the Musquets was put into his Hand, he took

the Ball and beat it into a great Length, and then divided it into small

Bits about the Size of Swan Shot, for he would not venture to shoot with

a single Ball, not knowing but his Life might depend upon the Success of

his Shoot, by these Means he kill'd one the first Shot. The King seemed

very well pleased, and made him charge the Piece again in the same

Manner, and taking it into his own Hands discharged it at another

_Coway_ which he also kill'd.

A _Coway_ is a fine beautiful Bird larger than a Swan, and not much

unlike it in Shape, the Body is as white as Milk, but the Tuft it wears

on its Head, as also its Tail, are adorned with Variety of Colours, the

Bill is a little crooked, and uneven, its Legs of a fine Yellow, but its

Form is best expressed by the Figure. They are in great Plenty always

living near the Water, hatching fourteen or fifteen young Ones at a

Time, and set four Times a Year; they are excellent to eat, nor do they

taste at all fishy.

After this, he was ordered back to his Prison, as he went along he ask'd

the Jaylor (with whom he was now grown more familiar) what he thought

the King intended to do with him. The _Kasboo_ or Jaylor told him, he

believed he intended to keep him there till the Ship (which they call a

_Schabew_) and the white Men were gone, and that then he would order him

to be releas'd from his Confinement, and employ him in some Service. The

Jaylor seem'd to talk to him, and use him in a much kinder Manner than

before; and when he arrived at the Prison, he brought him a _Patue_ (in

their Language a Dish) of boiled Rice with Oyl, which is look'd upon to

be very good Food; he left him two large _Alaboes_ or Pitchers of Water,

sufficient to drink and to clean his Kennel, after which, he took a

comfortable Nights Rest.

The poor Fellow now began to wish that the Ship was gone, since he had

no Prospect of making his Escape, and that their Departure would procure

him greater Liberty. Next Morning seeing the old Man who had furnish'd

him with the Palmatu Leaves, looking thro' one of the Holes at him, he

enquired of him, whether the Ship was still in Sight? He told him it

was, that there were still great Numbers of People lying behind the

Bank, having with them those Things which were taken in the Boats,

describing the Musquets, and great Numbers of Arrows, ready to shoot if

they should either Land, or come near enough with their Ship; he begg'd

of him to let him know what should happen, and particularly to inform

him when the Ship should go off: The old Man whose Name was _Morasab_,

seem'd obliging and kind, and promised him to do so, and that he would

return towards Night (which in their Language they call _Raham_.)

A little after the _Kasboo_ or Jaylor came in, bringing some Plantanes

and Bonana's to him for his Breakfast, and opened a Door which went into

a little back Yard, where there was a Spring of fine fresh Water,

bidding him draw what Water he pleased in his _Alaboes_, and clean his

Prison, leaving the Place open to him for that Purpose, there being no

Way for him to get out; towards Evening he came to him again, bringing

him some boyl'd Rice and Oyl, and then he shut up the Door before

described, and leaving him Water enough, left him for that Night.

_Morasab_ appeared at one of the Holes according to his Promise,

acquainting him, that the Ship remained still in the same Station, and

that the Boat had not been seen near the Land that Day. Next Morning

_Morasab_ came again, and with great Joy told him, the Ship was then

going off, being under Sail; a little after the _Kasboo_ or Jaylor came

in as usual, bringing some boyl'd Rice, and gave him the same Account of

the Ship.

Tho' he despaired now of ever getting off, yet he expected to be

enlarged from his Prison, and enjoy Liberty, the sweetest Thing to Man.

In the Evening _Morazab_ came again to let him know, that the Ship was

almost out of Sight, and that the King had sent a Party of Men to the

East, and another to the West, to watch the Coast, and lye in Wait for

the white Men, in Case they should Land any where else for Water or to

get Provisions. The next Day he came again and gave him Notice, that

Word had been brought to the King that the Ship had been seen again a

great Way off to the Westward, but that the Men had not come on Shore;

and the Day following he visited him again, with an Account, that News

was brought to the King that the Ship was gone off again, and sail'd out

of Sight.

Upon this, he expected to be immediately releas'd from his Confinement,

yet he was kept close to his Prison ten Days longer; the Reason as he

afterwards found, was, least the Ship might be hovering somewhere upon

the Coast, and having his Liberty he might find an Opportunity of

escaping to her; but when they seem'd pretty well assured that the Ship

was quite gone off, the King sent for him, and ask'd him, if he should

give him his Liberty, whether he would attempt to escape? He promised he

would not, and indeed any Attempt now would have been in Vain, for to

escape would have been a Thing impossible; upon which, the King

appointed him to attend upon his Person, and to live with his other

Servants, giving him Orders at the same Time not to go out of the City.

There was nothing at all uncomfortable in the Life he led here, for the

Service was easy, having very little to do; his chief Business was

carrying up the Pataes or Dishes for the King's Dinner, who eat upon the

Ground, the Floor being sometimes covered with a Mat instead of a Cloth,

and sometimes bare without any Thing; the Diet was generally boiled

Rice, with broiled Meat, sometimes Venison, sometimes wild Goat; as also

Fowl of all Sorts, which are smaller than those of _Europe_, but of an

excellent Taste; they have also several Fowl not known to us; their Beef

and Mutton are both excellent, but small; they also had Variety of Fish

which they dress, either by boiling or broiling, as for Sawce, the King

himself had none, except _Kajan_, Pepper, for they eat most of their

Things very hot, and boiled Rice is what serves them instead of Bread.

Thus he lived in Plenty, eating as much as he would of what was left,

when the King had done Dinner, so that few People as to Eating and

Drinking tasted so great a Variety as he did; the Diet of the common

Sort of People, consists generally of Plantanes, Bonana's, boiled Rice

(which they call _Pasida_) and Oil, and a Dish they call _Kaja_, which

is Plantanes and Rice boiled together, sometimes indeed they have

Venison and wild Goat, which they kill themselves, but whatever it is,

they eat it out of the Crock it is boiled in, for none but those of

great Condition have the Use of _Pataes_ or Dishes; if it be broiled,

whether it be Fish or Flesh, they eat it off the Coals, and to avoid

burning their Fingers, they take a Bit of green Stick which they break

half through, and so bending it together, it serves the Use of a Pair of

Tongues as well as a Fork, in turning the Meat upon the Coals as well as

taking it off when it is ready. As for Knives and Forks the King himself

is not acquainted with the Use of them; so that he pulls his Meat to

Pieces with his Fingers, which is generally so well done that it

requires no great Labour.

It was about two Months before he ventured to stir abroad beyond the

Palace; but one Day one of the Servants who had Business about the City,

ask'd him to go along with him, and in Discourse told him, the King

would not be displeas'd, if he should go out often; upon this

Encouragement he used to walk about the City almost every Day, chusing

the Time when the King went to sleep, which was constantly his Practice

every Afternoon. He took this Liberty three or four Months together,

sometimes being absent several Hours without receiving the least

Reprimand; he made an Acquaintance with several in the City, and had

Leisure to satisfie his Curiosity, in observing every Thing that

appeared new and strange, to one who had lived so long amongst the

_Europeans_.

The City of _Magadoxa_ lies (as has been observ'd) in the Latitude of

one Degree and fifty one Minutes: It is built betwixt two Hills or

rather on the Sides of two Hills, the greatest Part of it standing on

the Declivity of that Hill next the Sea, so that there is scarce any of

it to be seen by any Ship in the Road, or that passes by, which indeed

are but few; for scarce any ever touch there, except driven by 'Stress

of Weather, as was the Case of the _Albemarle_. They have no Vessels of

their own, except a few employ'd in Fishing, which they call Juncks, and

not above ten or twelve of those; and tho' some of them are large enough

to carry thirteen or fourteen Ton, they never venture far from the Land.

The City contains betwixt three and four thousand Houses, some built of

rough Stone, others of Marble, of which they have many Quaries,

extreamly fine, and of various Colours, but they want the Art of

polishing it; but the most esteemed and most expensive Houses, are those

of rough Stone covered over with a Kind of Plaister, which is peculiar

to this Country; after it is laid on, it is not above three Days in

drying, and grows as hard and durable as the Stone itself; but the

greatest Curiosity of it is, that they can make it of what Colour they

please; and as the Houses of all Persons of Condition are covered with

it, it has a mighty pretty Effect to the Eye, for some have their Houses

white, others red, some yellow, and some blue, that of the King was

green, while the Inside is floor'd with the same Plaister, the Rooms all

differing in Colour from each other, which Variety makes the City appear

very beautiful, tho' the Streets are very narrow and very nasty.

Notwithstanding the Houses look so bright without Side, their Furniture

within consists of very little more than Cobwebs, for they have neither

Tables, Chairs, nor Glasses, they have indeed Matts which serve them

instead of Table-Cloths by Day, and Beds by Night, upon which they lie

without either Pillow or Bolster, with a Covering of Mokaz or thick

Dungeree over them, which is so call'd from a Tree of that Name, of the

Bark of which it is made, which being beaten, is drawn into long

Threads, and wove or rather work'd with fine Needles made of Wood,

either thick or thin, according to which it is intended; and to such a

Perfection are they arrived in this Sort of Manufacture, that they can

make it as smooth, and as soft, as a Piece of _English_ Broad-Cloth, and

much stronger.

We should have observed that they have no such Things as Glass-Windows

to their Houses, however there are either large round or square

Vacancies in every Room to receive both Air and Light; these Sort of

Windows are covered generally all Day with Shutters of thick Plank, in

which many Holes are bored, in order to keep out the Heat of the Sun. As

for Chimneys they have no such Thing: In all great Houses there is a

Room appropriated for the Dressing the Victuals, where the Fire is made

in a Corner upon the Ground, and those that are employ'd in that Service

must be well smoaked. The common People frequently make their Fires

without Doors, for Rice and Fish they never eat without some Sort of

Dressing, but Flesh, to save Trouble and Fire, they frequently eat raw.

The King maintains nothing which has the State or Air of a Court, having

no Guards about his Person, so that he frequently walks abroad in the

Streets in the Dress before described, without either Shoes or

Stockings: All those that meet him pass him by, and go on upon their

Business without shewing him any external Mark of Respect; nay so little

a Notion have they of Ceremony, that it is common for Persons of both

Sexes to ease Nature in the Streets, perhaps when the King is passing

by, and yet he is as well obey'd as any Prince in the World.

The Nobility walk about in as careless a Manner as the King, and are

known by their Turbants; the better Sort of the common People wear Caps

of various Colours, the Rest go intirely naked.

The Queen also walks about the Streets without either Guards or

Attendants, and would pass as unregarded as the King, were it not that

the Gaiety of her Dress must draw the Eyes of the Spectators; she

commonly wears a Garment of either purple or green Silk, which being

tied about her Waste reaches down to her Heels, with Variety of white,

red, and green Feathers artfully disposed in her Hair, however she is

bare-footed like the Rest, whilst all the poorer Sort of the Sex go

quite naked, without thinking they carry any Thing about them they ought

to be ashamed of.

The Wives of the Men of Condition indeed all wear Clothes, and are

dress'd in the same Fashion with the Queen, tho' not all so gay or so

rich; but whatever their Habits may be, they take Care always to shew

their naked Breasts, which hang down to their Bellies, if they have had

any Children; and which we suppose is look'd upon as a Beauty, by their

taking Care to expose them to View; they also paint the Nipples red,

which is the only Art they use in setting off their Persons; they bring

their Children into the World with little or no Pain, and without an

Hour's Confinement from the common Occupations of Life.

The only Occasion when the King appears with any Thing that looks like

Pomp or Magnificence is, when he rides abroad to take the Air, then he

is mounted upon one of his Elephants, with his Favourites and Companions

about him; they have a Way of fixing upon the Back of the Elephant, a

Frame of Boards about eight or ten Foot Square, on which, he, with such

as he carries with him to bear him Company, sit as commodiously as if in

a Room, whilst two of his Servants on Foot conduct the Beast; yet even

here, tho' he goes thro' any Crowd of People, no Man stops to do him

Homage, or to pay him any Sort of Obedience, nor does he seem to expect

it, having no Notion, that the Subjects are to be kept in Awe by the

Shew of Grandeur which surrounds their Prince: A Mark of good Sense,

beyond what is to be met with in the Courts of _European_ Princes.

His Way of maintaining an inward Respect in the Hearts of the People

which they have Sense enough to know, is preferable to that External

which consist only in Shew and Appearance, and sometimes conceals

Contempt and Hatred at Bottom, is by doing Justice in his Person,

according to the best of his Judgment and Capacity; he is himself both

King and Judge, and decides all Disputes betwixt Man and Man (which

indeed are very few) by a personal Hearing of the Cause of Complaint. He

is assisted by seven or eight Persons, who always sit about him for that

Purpose, and may be called his Councellors; nor was it ever so much as

suspected that any of these, either for Bribe, or Reward, or Promise,

endeavoured to influence the King in his Judgment.

It rarely happens that any Persons is condemn'd to die; for as every

Thing they feed on, except Rice, Plantanes, Oil, _&c._ is acquired by

hunting and fishing, there are few Occasions for Theft amongst them;

however, when any Person has merited that Punishment, the common Way of

executing is, by throwing the Criminal, into the Den (which they call

_Bodyzaw_) amongst the wild Beasts, such as Tygers, Leopards, and

Crocadiles which are kept hungry before-hand for that Purpose.

There are many other Creatures kept in that _Bodizaw_ or Den which are

peculiar to this Country, such as the _Augazet_, which is the largest of

all their Beasts, except the Elephant; it is of a white or rather

yellowish Colour, with Streaks of Black running like Veins all over it,

and also black Spots, the Face is not unlike that of a Cat, it has long

sharp Claws; when it is wild, it is extreamly fierce, but may be

rendered as gentle and tractable as a Household Dog.

A _Bozee_ is an amphibious Creature, which always lives by the Sides of

Rivers, and feeds principally upon Fish; it has a long Bill, and in all

Respects the Shape and Form of a Bird, but wants Wings to fly, and

instead of Feathers, is covered all over with a hard Scale resembling

the Bark of a Tree, and so tough that an Arrow will not enter it; their

Legs are very thick and scaled in the same Manner with their Bodies,

having sharp Claws to their Feet; the Natives are more afraid of this

Creature than of any other in the whole Country, especially, if they are

obliged to travel any where by Night, near the Sides of Rivers, for they

say it is so fierce and voracious, that it will seize either Man or

Beast.

The _Massau_ is another amphibious Creature, very large, whose Body is

scaly like that of the _Bozee_, but it is of a different Colour, being

reddish; the Bill also differs from that of the _Bozee_, for it is short

and shaped like that of a Pidgeon; It is a timorous Creature, that upon

hearing the least Noise immediately rushes for the Water; its Food is

chiefly Weeds.

A _Sachew_ is a Beast about the Size of a large Lion, of a dark brown

Colour, with Shades of black all over the Body, and a Scale down his

Back as hard as Horn, the Eyes are extreamly fierce, and in all Respects

a terrible Creature to look at, but yet a Child would frighten it.--At

the Sight of any human Creature it flies with great Swiftness to the

Woods.

One of the King's Diversions is, to go to this _Bodizaw_ or Den of wild

Beasts to see them play; they are perfectly under the Command of their

Keepers, and are taught to play Tricks like Dogs; nay, it is almost his

only Diversion, unless sleeping half the Day can be called a Diversion.

As for riding out upon his Elephants, as we took Notice before, he does

it so seldom, it can scarce be reckon'd amongst his Pleasures.

Ease, Plenty, and the Heat of the Climate have render'd the People in

general inclined to be slothful, they have no Trade with the

Neighbouring Nations, nor do they desire to have any; it is true, they

have a little Sort of Traffick amongst themselves, as those that hunt

and shoot Goats, Venison, _&c._ give them often in Exchange for Dungeree

Stuffs; they have also Gold and Silver amongst themselves, but very

base;--they don't seem inclined to Cruelty, unless against white Men,

whom they are taught to hate, tho' they scarce ever see any; but there

is a Kind of historical Tradition amongst them (for they have no Books)

that their Country was once invaded by white Men, who committed many

Cruelties upon them, and indeed it is likely that the _Portuguese_ might

formerly have landed amongst them, while they were making their _India_

Discoveries, and perhaps might have treated them like Slaves, from

whence comes this Tradition, and which is the Case of their inbred

Hatred to white Men to this Day.

Thus the Molotto had Leisure to divert himself with observing the

Customs and Manners of these strange People, who have no Commerce or

Communication with the Rest of the World. One Day as he was walking in

the City, he was extreamly surpriz'd and terrified at the Sight of a

Bird of a monstruous Size, which stalk'd close by him in the Street: It

was what they call a _Pyone_, but he had never seen one of them before,

so that tho' it is tame and inoffensive, it is no Wonder he should be

frighten'd at it.

A _Pyone_, as to Shape, differs from all Birds amongst us; their Colour

is a whitish brown, and in the Pinion of each Wing they have five black,

and five scarlet Feathers, very broad, and above a Foot long; their Legs

are of a bright red, something small for so large a Body, and above

three Foot in Length; their Necks are also extreamly long, so that from

the Foot to the Top of their Heads they are generally ten Foot in

Heighth; they breed in the Mountains, never sit on more than two Eggs at

a Time, which always produce a Male and Female: The People catch them

when they are young, and let them loose in the Streets, taking Pleasure

in the Sight of them, for they do no Mischief, and feed on any Thing

they can pick up.

He was so encouraged by this Indulgence which was shew'd him, that he

thought he might go where he pleased, and that the Restriction which was

laid upon him, was as good as taken off; wherefore, he was tempted by

his Curiosity one Day to walk out of the City, and was seen by a great

many People. The Day following the _Accabo_ or King, with a stern

Countenance, ask'd him if he had been out of the City? He was so

terrified at his Looks, knowing also, that he had been commanded not to

take that Liberty, that he was not able to answer: The King's Son who

was present, smilingly ask'd him, why he did not speak? This recovered

him a little from his Astonishment, so that he had the Courage to own he

had; then the King with a more pleasing Aspect, desired to know of him,

whether he had been to see his _Moorzacks_, or Tombs, he answered no;

tho' he had a great Desire of seeing them, because he had heard much

Talk of them. So the Thing pass'd over without any farther Reprimand for

this Time.

The next Day in the Afternoon, the King rid out on an Elephant in the

Manner before described, ordering the Molotto to attend him, and went to

visit the _Moorzacks_, or Monuments of his Ancestors, which are situated

about three or four Miles from the City: The Magnificence and Beauty of

these Tombs, are almost incredible, considering that it is in a Country

of _Barbarians_ that they are made; the Molotto was greatly surprized at

their extraordinary Grandeur; the King took Notice of his Astonishment,

and was not displeased at it, and enquiring of him how he liked them,

the Molotto answered, he had never seen any Thing equal to them, in all

his Life, and that he believed Strangers would travel from all Parts of

the World to see them, did they but know such Things were there. The

King then enquired of him concerning the Tombs of the white Men, and

ask'd several Questions about the Ceremonies used in Funerals in all the

Countries he had been in; the Molotto gave him the best Account he

could, still extolling the Beauty of these Monuments above those of all

the World. The King then enquired of him whether he knew how Gunpowder

was made, he answered no; that it was made by the white Men, and that he

was but little acquainted with their Ways. He answer'd in this Manner,

knowing that if he should speak with Respect of white Men, it might do

him some Prejudice, because of the Aversion he found they had towards

them. Upon the whole, the King appeared pleased with the Conversation of

this Day, and the Molotto fancied he should grow into Favour.

But two or three Days after, an Accident happened which put him again

into a Fright, going out to walk as usual, he ventured as far as the

_Moorzacks_, or Tombs, for he took a singular Pleasure in the Sight of

them. It happened in the mean Time that they wanted him, he was not to

be found in the King's House, or about the City; upon which, there were

several Persons sent in Search of him different Ways, one of them found

him among the _Moorzacks_, or Tombs, and brought him home, he was

dismally frightened, when he understood the King's Displeasure;

wherefore, as soon as he came into his Presence, he fell down upon his

Face, as is practiced by those with whom he is displeased. The King

ask'd him in an angry Tone where he had been? he answered at the

_Moorzacks_, or Tombs; then the King enquired of those that had been

sent in Search of him, whether it was true, they assured him they had

found him there; upon hearing of which, he seemed to be immediately

pacified, and said to him (_Korah_) which signifies properly to rise,

but is never said, except when he forgives. Then the King ask'd him, if

he would not attempt to run away, provided he should appoint him to live

constantly among the Guards, who were maintained for watching those

Monuments? he answered no; and that he should be pleased to pass the

Remainder of his Days in so delightful a Place, without ever having a

Wish for seeing his own Country again.

For this Time he was dismiss'd, but next Day being call'd up before the

King, he was told that he must go to the _Moorzacks_, or Tombs, there to

wait and do Duty as one of the Guards; there was a _Bamzau_ or Priest

sent along with him, who was to instruct him in his Duty there. On the

Way as he went, the _Bamzau_ or Priest told him, that he must live

constantly among the Monuments, and that he would have Meat, Drink, and

Lodging provided for him without any Trouble, that he must not take the

Liberty of coming to the City, or going beyond the Bounds prescribed,

which the Rest of the Guards whom they call _Passaus_ would shew him;

that he must be obliged to watch every second Night, to take Care that

the Lamps which burnt in the Tombs were supplied with Oil, and never

went out, and to keep the Tombs from any Filth or Nastiness.

When they arrived at the Place, the _Bamzau_ or Priest commanded all the

_Passaus_ or Guards to be called together, acquainting them that the

King had sent this Molotto amongst them to do the same Duty, and ordered

one whom he called out from amongst the Rest, to return to the King with

him, it being the King's Pleasure that the Molotto should supply his

Place. This was readily obeyed, and they departed together.

The _Passaus_ or Guards received him civilly enough, they immediately

began Acquaintance with him, explaining to him all the Particulars of

their Duty, and shewed him the Bounds within which he was to confine

himself; telling him if he pass'd those Limits, they must be obliged to

kill him. This Order seemed a little too severe, but he fancied it was

only said to terrify him, least he should take it into his Head to

attempt an Escape; he flattered himself so for two Reasons, First,

because of the Indulgence which had been shewn him when he ventured to

exceed his Orders in going out of the City; and secondly he took Notice

that the _Bamzau_ or Priest spoke to the _Passaus_ or Guards apart,

which he fancied was instructing them to keep him in Ignorance as to the

Truth of their Orders; they brought some boiled Rice and Oil cold, and

told him he must watch that Night, because it was the Turn of the Person

in whose Place he was come; in order to which, they brought him a

Watch-Coat made of Hair, which they work very curiously with Needles, so

that the whole Coat is of one entire Piece without a Seam; it hangs from

the Shoulders down to the Ground, but has no Sleeves, so that it is more

like a Cloak than a Coat.

The Sun being set, which is the Time they enter upon the Watch, every

two Men began to fix their _Pohalick_, over against the Door of the

_Moorzack_ they were to watch; but to understand this Matter, it will be

necessary to explain what a _Pohalick_ is,--A _Pohalick_ is a Kind of a

Tent, contrived to shelter them from the Inclemencies of the Weather,

for the Nights are sometimes very cold there, especially if it rains;

wherefore, they take four Poles of about eight Foot long, which, instead

of fixing in the Ground, are plac'd in four Stone-Sockets, placed on

Purpose, opposite to each _Moorzack_, for that Use, with Cross-Poles

reaching from one to the other; but instead of Canvass they hang over it

a Covering of Palmatu Leaves sewen together; the two oldest Standers

have their Post opposite to the King's _Moorzack_, the Rest are posted

according to their Seniority, for they are exact Observers of the Rules

of Precedence; the youngest also in each Pohalick, fetches Wood for

Fire, which is also absolutely necessary, as well to keep off the

Musketoos which would be, otherwise, very troublesome, as to correct the

Damps. As soon as the Sun rises, he also takes down the Pohalick, sweeps

up the Ashes very clean, which remain of the Fire, and carries them

away, that the Place may appear perfectly neat. It is his Duty also to

go to the _Bankoos_ (so they call the Steward of the _Moorzacks_) for

the Provision of the Day, which he is afterwards to dress both for

himself and his Comrade.

This Part of the Duty was not disagreeable to the Molotto, for having no

Books to read, he would have grown melancholly for Want of something to

divert his Time, had he been entirely idle; their Allowance of Provision

was sufficient, and very good in its Kind. On _Sundays_ and _Tuesdays_

it was Flesh, either Beef, Mutton, or Goat, and Rice for Bread. On

_Wednesdays_, Kaja (we have already told what that is) _Mondays_ and

_Fridays_, Fish and Plantanes. _Thursdays_ and _Saturdays_ Plantanes,

Rice, and Oil. Their Fish was excellent in its Kind, but they usually

dress'd it without taking out the Guts, and which they eat with it

instead of Sauce, but the Molotto corrected this Part of their Cookery,

and having gutted the Fish before he broiled it, he found his Comrades

very well pleas'd, and they always managed it so after.

While he pass'd his Life here pleasantly enough, one Day the _Accabo_,

or King, sent a Guard to fetch him to the City; he was extreamly

frightened at this unexpected Turn, and enquired of those that conducted

him, into the Meaning of it, but they could give him no Account of it,

but hurried him along very quick; when they arriv'd at the City, they

did not carry him before the _Accabo_, or King, as he expected, but

conducted him strait to the _Haulob_, or Prison, where he had been

before confined. He had not been there above two Hours when his old

Friend _Morasab_ came to make him a Visit, whose Opinion he ask'd

concerning his Confinement, _Morasab_ told him, he judged it to be for

no other Reason, than because there had been a _Schabew_, or Ship, seen

that Morning at a great Distance off the Coast, that there were Men on

the Hills then watching of her, and others lying in Wait to surprize any

that should attempt to come on Shore. While they were in Discourse, the

_Kasboo_ or Jaylor came in with some boiled Rice and Fish, and confirmed

what _Morasab_ had told him, and cheared him up by assuring him, that no

Harm was intended him, that he was only confined to prevent his making

his Escape. The Molotto knowing that every Thing he should say, would be

told again the King, because any Person may speak to him with the utmost

Freedom at any Time, except when he is sitting in Judgment, told the

_Kasboo_, that he had given over all Thoughts of visiting his native

Country more, having neither Wife nor Children; nor was he desirous of

seeing any other Part of that Country, having taken a firm Resolution to

obey the Orders very punctually of never going beyond the Limits of the

_Moorzacks_; the _Kasboo_ told him, that if he had any Value for his

Life, it would be best for him to do so, for if he should at any Time be

catch'd attempting any Escape, he would be served just as the white Men

had been, the Molotto answered he should deserve it, since the King had

been so gracious to him, not only to give him his Life, but to appoint

him to live in a Place which he liked above any Thing he had ever seen.

All this Discourse was reported that Night to the King, the Consequence

of which was, that he was sent for the next Morning; the first Question

the King ask'd him was, whether that _Shabew_ or Ship which had appear'd

in Sight, was the same in which he came? He answered, he could not tell,

unless he was to see it, (but that could not be done now, for she was

gone off without coming to an Anchor, or sending her Boat on Shore.) The

King then ask'd him, whether he had a Desire to return back to the

_Moorzacks_? He answered, it was what he longed for of all Things, and

repeated the same Things concerning the Pleasure he took in that Place,

which he had done before to the _Kasboo_; he found this tickled the

King's Vanity, and put him into good Humour, wherefore, he commanded him

to be conducted back, whither he arrived with a much lighter Heart than

he left it, having the Satisfaction also of seeing his Comrades mighty

well pleas'd at his safe Return amongst them.

Here he pass'd his Time without any Care, having every Thing provided

for him, being at Leisure all the Day long to divert himself as he

would, for except taking his Watch in his Turn, he had nothing to do,

but to clean the _Moorzacks_ every new Moon, both within and without,

and to take Care that the Lamps around them should be supplied with Oil,

and never go out.

He observ'd his Companions employed their Leisure Time all in some Work,

most of them in making some little Curiosities, which the Towns-People

used to walk out, and buy of them, and which enabled them to purchase

Liquor and other Things they had an Inclination for; his Comrade in

particular used to amuse himself with making Fishing-Nets, but these

Nets are very different from those used in _Europe_, they are made of

Sea-Grass, wove out into a certain Length, and the Fisherman before he

uses them, fastens to them a certain Number of Hooks (for they are

ignorant of the Art of contriving Nets to catch Fish without Hooks) his

Comrade with a great Deal of Ease used to make one of these a Week, and

he observing how he work'd them, did not doubt but he could do the same;

therefore he begg'd of his Comrade to give him a little of his

Sea-Grass, with which he began to make Trial, and succeeded so well,

that in a few Days he finished a Net, which he truck'd away for a

Quantity of Sea Grass.

He was now set up for a new Trade, and was so industrious in it, that he

work'd his Nets with much more Curiosity than any of his Partners, and

of Consequence had better Business; so that in a little Time he was able

to purchase a Piece of Dungeree Linnen with his own Earnings, of which

he made himself a Wastecoat after the _English_ Fashion, and a Pair of

long Drawers; but he had not worn them above a Day or two when the

_Bankoo_, or Steward of the _Moorzacks_, commanded him to leave off the

Wastecoat, that he might appear like the rest, who wore nothing but a

Piece of any Stuff they could get, about their Wastes, to cover their

Nakedness.

Upon the whole, he found he should have no great Occasion to provide for

his Back, which occasioned his being less diligent in his Work; however,

he purchased a _Mohaz_ Covering to keep him warm in the Night, with the

_Bankoo_'s Permission, and happening to talk sometimes with his Comrades

about Nets, and describing how they were made in _Europe_, the _Bankoo_

asked him if he could make one in the same Manner? But finding he was

not to lay out his Earnings to please himself, he answered, he could

not; however, an Accident fell out soon after which brought him into

great Favour.

As it was Part of his Duty to go to the _Bankoo_'s generally in the

Morning, for the Allowance of Provision for the Day for himself and

Comrade, he observed, that tho' their Allowance was sufficient in all

other Respects, it was very short as to Salt. One Day, when they had

Plantanes, Rice and Oil, he begg'd hard for a little more Salt, but the

_Bankoo_ told him it could not be done without defrauding some of the

rest, for Salt is exceeding scarce amongst them, having no Way of making

it, nor any Way of providing it but by searching among the Rocks, near

the Sea Side, where they pick it up in Bits about the Bigness of a Nut,

and sometimes larger; here Nature makes it by the continual beating of

the Sea in one Place; but the Quantities they are able to procure this

Way are very small; wherefore, finding himself disappointed, he happened

to say, that if he was at Liberty he could make Salt as plenty in

_Magadoxa_ as it was in _Europe_. The _Bankoo_ the same Day acquainted

the _Accabo_ with what he had said, so that the next Day he was sent

for: He was no sooner arrived in the Presence of the _Accabo_ but he

immediately asked him if he could make Salt? He answered, he believed he

could, (and the Truth on't was he had often seen it made.) At the same

Time he described the Manner of making it. The _Accabo_ immediately

order'd him to go to Work, and to have what Assistance he requir'd; he

did so, and was so industrious and successful in it, that in six Months

Salt was as plenty amongst them as any where else.

The _Accabo_ sent for him again, and inquired of him concerning

Fishing-Nets, as they were used in _Europe_: He described them to him;

upon which he asked him if he could make one of them? He had been asked

the same Question before by the _Bankoo_, and denied that he had any

Skill that Way; but considering with himself now that since he was

likely to pass his whole Life amongst these People, it was his Business

to gain their Favour all the Ways he could, he answered, he never had

made any; however, if he (the _Accabo_) thought fit, he would try and do

the best he could.

The _Accabo_ seemed mightily pleased with his Willingness, and asked him

if he should want any to assist him? He answered he should, and desired

eight Persons to be employed in Spinning, and six in Knitting. These

People were to follow his Directions, accordingly they fell to Work,

and, in the Space of two Months, finished a Net eighty Fathom long.

When it was finished the _Accabo_ himself had a Mind to see what Effect

it would have beyond their own Nets; accordingly he went on board one of

their Junks, attended by his Favourites, having with him also several of

their most experienced Fishermen: They had the good Luck to take a good

Number of Fish the first Hawl, among which were several Sorts they had

never before seen, being such Fish as will not take the Hook, and such

as always keep deep in the Water. The _Accabo_ appeared highly contented

with this Success, and ordered several more of them to be made, which

could be done without him now that he had shewn them a Way, so that Fish

soon became infinitely more plenty than ever it had been before.

The Molotto expected no less than to be rewarded with some extraordinary

Recompence for the publick Services; the least Favour he thought could

be granted him would be to give him the Liberty of a Freeman, and to let

him live as an Inhabitant of the City, and to get his living amongst

them, by any Sort of Industry he could; but he found himself greatly

mistaken, for all his Reward consisted in being sent back to the

_Moorzacks_, upon the same Foot he had been before.

It is true, he passed his Time here with a great deal of Tranquility,

and began to reconcile himself to the Thoughts of remaining there his

whole Life, he was convinced that nothing he could do to ingratiate

himself, would procure him any Favour or Liberty; and an Accident fell

out which gave him a terrible Notion of their Severity: One of the

_Passaus_ or Guards, on a Night when it was not his Turn to be upon the

Watch, went privately into the City, contrary to Orders, and returned

again before it was Day, but not so privately but he was seen by some

Person, who went and discovered it to the _Accabo_; the Consequence of

which was, that he was sent for under a Guard the next Morning, and,

being brought into the King's Presence, was, without any more Ceremony,

executed in the following Manner: He was obliged to kneel down, leaning

his Head forwards, whilst the Executioner, with a heavy Bar of Timber,

struck him on the lower part of his Head, and beat out his Brains.

This Example so terrified the poor Molotto, that in fifteen Years he was

in that Place he never ventured beyond the Limits, except when he was

sent for by the _Accabo_, or to attend a Burial, which he was obliged to

do when any of the _Passaus_ or Guards died, for they were not buried

among the _Moorzacks_, no more than any of the other of the common

People.

But it is Time that we describe this Place, which is not only the

greatest Curiosity of this Country, but would pass for a Piece of

Magnificence in those Nations where Arts and Sciences are known, and it

is fit to be the more particular in it, as it may appear strange, that

those People who are Barbarians in all other Respects, should observe so

much Pomp and Decoration in their funeral Ceremonies.

This burying Place, which they call _Hoynatz_, is pleasantly situated in

a beautiful Valley between two Hills, about two _English_ Miles from the

City of _Magadoxa_; there are in it twenty nine _Moorzacks_, or Tombs,

all which were first built by the Kings, at whose Expence the _Passaus_

or Guards are kept, their being four to each _Moorzack_, who watch two

and two by Turns, who take Care of the Lamps, which continually burn

within, and keep every Thing clean to the greatest Nicety.

Tho' these _Moorzacks_ may be said properly all to belong to the King,

yet several other Persons of the first Rank are buried in them, by the

King's special Favour, for he sometimes gives a _Moorzack_ to some

Favourite, as a burying Place for his Family; notwithstanding which

Gift, when any of the said Family dies, the King's Permission must be

asked anew for burying him in the _Moorzack_, the Reason is, that it

frequently happens that when a Person who has this Kind of Right to be

buried in a _Moorzack_ disobliges the King, he takes no Notice of it as

long as the Party lives; but when he dies, he forbids him to be buried

in the _Moorzack_, by way of Punishment.

This may shew what a Veneration they have for these Places, when they

seem to think that all Happiness, as well as Honour, consisted in laying

the Body after Death in one of these _Moorzacks_; and, indeed, it is one

of the chief Pleasures of the King, as well as of the common People to

visit these Places often, which they do with a Kind of religious

Respect.

The largest _Moorzack_ or Tomb of all is the King's own, no other Person

being ever buried therein; it is eighty Foot square, built of black and

white Marble mix'd, with a Kind of Cupola at Top, and over it a long

Spire, the Inside, both Floor and Sides, is white Marble curiously

polished, and the Cieling or Cupola painted green: There are in it forty

five _Boozes_ of Gold, standing on as many Pedestals of black Marble, of

about four Foot high.

A _Booze_ is a kind of round Pot with a Cover, about eight Inches deep,

and five Diameter, in which are placed the Ashes of the Dead of those

that are deposited there; I say the Ashes, because the Bodies are first

burned.

There are also sixteen large Lamps of Gold, with nine Lights to each,

four in a Corner, and one large one in the Middle, with two Lights; the

large ones are never lighted but at Funerals, when they make a fine

Shew, but that in the Middle burns constantly.

By the forty five _Boozes_, wherein are deposited the Ashes, it may be

conjectured that as many of their Kings lie there, and so the Molotto

was informed.

The second for Largeness belongs to the _Cossues_ or Queens, (for, it

must be observed, that the Males and Females are never buried in the

same _Moorzack_:) It is built all of white Marble, and is fifty nine

Foot square, the inside Wall exactly the same with the outside, but the

Floor is of black and white Marble laid in Squares, much like what may

be seen in Noblemens Houses in _Europe_. There are fifty six _Boozes_ of

Gold, standing on black Marble Pedestals; there are twelve large Lamps,

each with seven Lights, three in each Corner, and one of Silver in the

Middle, which burns constantly, as in the King's.

The third belongs to the _Acobibs_, or Princes; it is also built of

white Marble; its Form is exactly round, being seventy nine Foot in

Circumference; there are in it fifty three _Boozes_ standing on black

Marble Pedestals, with thirteen Lamps of Silver with seven Lights each;

twelve of them are plac'd in a circular Form, and the thirteenth in the

Middle, which burns constantly, the Cieling is painted green.

The fourth belongs to the _Matotzes_ or Princesses; It is built of a

greenish Marble, vein'd with black, being of a circular Form like that

of the _Acobibs_ or Princes, and much about the same in Circumference;

the inside Wall is of white Marble; the Floor of various Colours, as

black, white, and green; and the Cieling which is made in the Form of a

Cupola, is yellow: It hath sixty four _Boozes_, standing on Pedestals of

black and white Marble, and eight large Silver Lamps with seven Lights

to each, placed in a circular Form, besides one in the middle which

burns constantly.

The fifth belongs to the _Foramzeps_ or Male Children of the Prince; it

is built of a white Marble, with large black Veins in it, both the

inside Wall and Floor being of a light grey Marble; it is thirty Foot

square, having nineteen _Boozes_ of Gold, and sixty of Silver, standing

on Pedestals of the same Sort of Marble, with the outside Wall; there

are in it eight large Silver Lamps, hanging two in each Corner, besides

one in the middle which burns continually.

The sixth _Moorzack_ belongs to the _Squeenzibs_ or Female Children of

the Prince; it is built of a curious red Marble, with Veins of white

running thro' it, and is twenty eight Foot square, the inside Wall and

Floor being of white Marble; it has a hundred and nineteen _Boozes_ of

Silver standing on Pedestals of a blewish grey Marble; it has eight

Silver Lamps disposed two in a Corner, besides one in the middle that

burns continually.

All these here taken Notice of, belong to those of the King's own Blood,

but as it may seem a little too tedious to be particular in the

Description of them all, we shall only observe who the great Persons

are, who are distinguished by having _Moorzacks_ assigned to them alone,

or to their Families.

First, There is one appointed for the burying Place of the _Baamzan_ or

chief Priest; one to the _Baulumzu_ or Treasurer; one to the

_Jocybauthaux_ or chief Councellor; one to the _Moorenzep_ or Head

General;--one to the _Caffa_ or Secretary;--one to the _Paremzebs_,

which are a few People so called by Way of Title, and are their chief

Nobility;--one to their Wives, whom they call _Tepshoyes_;--one to the

_Morepzus_ or Generals of the Elephants;--one to the _Hammons_ or

Governors of Towns;--one to the _Hoyzepa_ or Head Teacher of the

Elephants;--one to the _Sancof_ or Head Doctor.

There is also one particularly kept for such as not being otherwise

intitled to this Honour, shall perform some brave Action in the

War--there is one belonging to the _Zanshaw_ or Master of the King's

Musick--One to the _Divatzabowes_ or Concubines of the King--One to the

_Panpuzams_ or Male Children of the King's Concubines--One to the

_Parrasquas_ or Male Children of the High Priest--One to the _Gauzets_

or Wives of the chief General--One to the _Matotzas_ or Wives of the

Governors of Towns--One to the _Hoydenebs_ or Wives of the

Treasurer--One to the _Okenzegs_ or Wives of the chief Councellor.

But when I mention a _Moorzack_ to belong to the Treasurer, or to the

General, it must not be understood to be for the Use of him and his

Heirs, but the next Person who succeeds in his Post is to be buried

there, and his Heirs are no Ways intitled, unless they happen to succeed

him in his Post.

These are all built of Marble of different Colours, some larger, and

some less, some square, others quite round, some having a small Spire at

Top, and others without; yet the Ornaments within are as rich in many of

them, as in those belonging to the King or Prince--As for Example, in

the _Moorzack_ of the _Baamzan_ or high Priest, of the _Baumlozn_ or

Treasurer, of the _Morewzep_ or General, and of the _Caffa_ or

Secretary, the _Boozes_ are all Gold; in others there are some of Gold

and some of Silver, and considering what a great Number there are of

them, these Monuments contain a vast Wealth.

When the King, Prince, or any other Person who is intitled to a Place in

one of these Monuments dies, the Corps is immediately stripp'd naked,

(let it be Man or Woman) after which, it is laid upon a Bier, and a thin

Piece of Purple Silk being thrown over it, it is carried to be lain in

State for some Days to a certain House, or Hall, built for that Purpose,

a little Way without the City.--This Building consists of one large

Room, sixty Foot in Length, and twenty six broad, being thirty Foot

high, and flat at Top; the Stone is a curious white Marble, it is

illuminated within with a great Number of Silver Lamps; in the middle

stands a white Marble Table, supported by six Marble Pedestals about

three Foot high, on which is laid the Body.

When they intend to remove it to the _Hoynabs_ or burying Place, they

exactly observe the Setting of the Sun; at which Time comes the chief

Priest, attended by all those who have a Right to be buried in these

Places (for no others must assist upon these Occasions) and drawing out

a sharp Instrument, which they call a _Mockdoo_, and which serves the

Use of a Knife, he opens the Body of the deceas'd, takes out the Heart,

and delivers it into the Hands of the nearest Relation, who stands ready

for that Purpose, at the Priest's right Hand; when this is done, the

Body is carried to the lower End of the Hall, where a Fire is prepared

in a Hole, five Foot deep in the Ground, and about as many broad; the

Body is put into the said Fire, where it is consumed; then the Heart is

again delivered into the Hands of the Priest, who places it in a little

Stone-Pot, and puts it into the Fire, where it remains till it is dried

to a Powder; then the Ashes of the Body being dried up, are put into the

_Booze_, as is also the Heart; after which, they proceed to the

_Hoynatz_, the nearest Relation carrying the _Booze_. When they arrive

at the _Moorzack_, which upon this Occasion is all illuminated, the

_Booze_ is again delivered into the Hands of the Priest, who going into

the _Moorzack_ alone, shuts the Door after him, he remains a Quarter of

an Hour, places the _Booze_ upon the Pedestal prepared for it, and then

returns, which makes an End of the whole Ceremony.

All this is done without a Word; nor is there any Sign of Sorrow or

Lamentation amongst the Kindred, of the deceas'd, nor is it the Custom

ever to speak of him, or name him at all after he is dead.

Thus we have given an Account of the Order and Ceremonies of their

Funerals, and of the Magnificence of their Monuments, which make a most

glorious Shew at a Distance, nor are they less beautiful when near, the

Materials of which they are built being very fine, and their Scituation

delightful.

But as to their Religion we can give but imperfect Accounts, for they

scarce know what it is themselves; they never ask'd the Molotto one Word

concerning his Religion, and when he enquired of theirs, they had very

little to say about it, but told such an incoherent Story, that he could

make neither Head nor Tail of it. There is a Mosque or Temple about half

a Mile out of the City, of which they give a fabulous Account, as that

it was built in one Night, but no Man could tell how, or by whom; but

their general Opinion was, that it was built by _Hios_ God of the Sea,

and at certain Times they used to flock, and pay a Kind of Devotion

there, but they could not tell why or wherefore. However by the best

Observations our Molotto could make, it appear'd to him as if they had

several Worships amongst them, for he took Notice that some paid their

Devotions to a little Image, not unlike a Wolf, which they kept in their

Houses, and which are so common, that the poorer Sort of People make

them of Bits of Wood, of about four or five Inches long, and sell them

about the Streets.

They bear no Sort of Hatred or Antipathy to Christians, as Christians,

as we see the _Turks_ and most of the Sects of _Mahomet_ do; but the

Truth on't is, they do not know what a Christian is, yet (as we observed

before) they are bred up in a Notion that white Men are all a Kind of

Monsters, and they hate and detest them, as we do Toads or other

poisonous Creatures, not for their Religion, but their Colour. In

Respect to one another they observe the Laws of Society very well, and

perhaps there is less Fraud and fewer Acts of Injustice committed

amongst them, than in any Christian Country we can name. So that our

Molotto who was now in a Manner naturaliz'd amongst them, and whose

Complexion was black enough not to appear odious and terrible to them,

was as well used as the rest of the _Passaus_ or Guards, or any other

Person of equal Rank with him.

It is certain he once flattered himself with the Hopes of being placed

in a better Condition of Life amongst them, or being set at full

Liberty, by Way of Recompence, for his instructing them in some useful

Things, which proved of publick Advantage to them, but he had long laid

aside those vain Thoughts, for he found the _Accabo_ had no Notion of

Generosity, or Gratitude: He, therefore, with a Kind of Philosophy,

seem'd to confine his Wishes to that melancholy quiet Life he was

obliged to lead within the Limits of the _Moorzacks_, till an Accident

fell out, which quite changed his Sentiments in this Respect, and which

proves how natural the Love of Liberty is to Man.

It happened that the _Hamman_ or Governor of the Town of _Saeni_, a

Place about twenty Leagues to the Eastward of _Magadoxa_, in the same

Kingdom of _Zanguebar_, having committed some Violences, by which he got

the ill Will of the People, they rose against him, and kill'd him. This

News was no sooner brought to _Magadoxa_, than the _Accabo_, tho' he

keeps no Army or Guards, except the _Passaus_ to watch the _Moorzacks_,

immediately rais'd a Body of two thousand Men, arm'd with Bows and

Arrows, and march'd in Person at the Head of them, to suppress the

Rebels. The second Days March, Advice was brought him that the _Schabew_

or Ship had been seen near a little Town call'd _Bandan_, ten Leagues

Eastward of _Saeni_, and thirty of _Magadoxa_: Upon which Intelligence,

he forthwith commanded six Men to march back to the _Moorzacks_ as

expeditiously as they could, in order to fetch our Molotto, and with him

to join the Army as soon as they could. They found him upon his Duty,

and commanded him to march away immediately, with his Bow and Arrows,

which were the Arms that belonged to him, as a _Passau_ or Guard of the

Moorzacks, so that he seem'd to march as a Soldier more than a Prisoner.

After two Days hard March they came up with the Army which had made a

Halt, at some Distance from the Town of _Saeni_, and the _Accabo_ having

sent out a Detachment to lie in Ambuscade near the Town, they took some

Prisoners, who being brought in, declared that all the Inhabitants had

abandoned the Town upon the News of the King's Approach, and were fled

away for Fear. At the same Time they gave such Instances of the Tyranny

of the late _Hamman_ or Governor, and of the Necessity they were under

of doing as they did, that the King appeared satisfied with their

Behaviour; and to lay aside all Resentment, ordered several of them to

go and find out the Rest, and give them Notice, that they might return

to their Habitations, for that all was pardon'd, and that he would send

them a better Governor. And, as if all had been over, the next Day he

began to move with his Army back towards _Magadoxa_, but marched

extreamly slow; towards Night, they came near a great Wood, into which

he commanded his whole Army to enter, in order to lie that Night; the

next Morning he gave Orders that no Man upon Pain of Death should go out

of the Wood.

In the mean Time the scattered Inhabitants of _Saeni_ having heard the

good News, were returning to their Habitations; but no sooner was it

dark that Night, but the _Accabo_ gave Orders for a March, and making

all the Expedition they could, they silently enter'd the Town of _Saeni_

before Morning, while the Inhabitants newly return'd were all asleep;

however, they were alarm'd, and running into the Streets, the _Accabo_

commanded his Men to fall upon them, who killed a great Number of them,

whilst a great many favoured by the Darkness of the Night, had the good

Luck to make their Escape; but of those that could not escape by Flight,

there were only forty three made Prisoners, all the Rest being kill'd.

Our Molotto happen'd to fall into Discourse with one of these Prisoners,

who lamenting the hard Fate, of his poor Townsmen, and giving him an

Account of their Flight from the City, and their Return back, told him,

that as they went near the Sea-side, about ten Leagues from thence, and

a League or two from _Bandon_, they saw a _Schabew_ or Ship, and so

described him the Way to the Place where she lay; the Molotto perceiv'd

it was directly East of the Place they were then at, _viz._ _Saeni_, he

ask'd several Questions concerning the Size of the Ship, the Prisoner

answer'd him to the best of his Understanding; and in his Manner of

describing her, gave the Molotto to understand, that her Yards and

Topmasts were down, which was a Sign she designed to lye there some

Time; he then desired to know of him when he had seen her last, he

answered him two Days before.

It immediately came into his Head that Providence had now given him the

Means of making his Escape, and that in all Probability if he miss'd

this, he never would have an Opportunity more; he knew that nothing

could hinder him from making off by Night, and that in all Probability,

he would be gone several Hours before he should be miss'd; so that he

flattered himself, that those who should be sent in Pursuit of him would

never overtake him, tho' they should hit the right Way, and he thought

it might very well happen they should be out there too.

All that Day he pass'd betwixt Hope and Fear, sometimes he was terrified

at the dismal Apprehensions of losing his Way himself, or of the Ship's

being sail'd off, in either of which Cases there was nothing for him but

certain Destruction, for he could have no Chance of concealing himself

in the Country as a Native might do.--On the other Side, he spirited

himself up with an Assurance that the Ship could not be yet sail'd,

having her Yards and Topmasts down but two Days before; and again, that

he knew so well how the Place bore, that there could be no Danger of his

losing his Way; so that that Day he did nothing but mark out the Way

with his Eye, that he intended to go, at his first setting out.

As soon as all was silent that Night, and his Comrades (who were a Kind

of Guards upon him) were all asleep, he ventured to set out, nor did he

meet with any Frights or Interruptions at the Beginning, getting clear

of the Army without being questioned, or so much as seen or heard of

any; for as they knew nothing of military Discipline, they have no

Centinels in the Night. He marched all Night with all his Might, for

indeed it was for Life; in the Morning when the Day was clear, he saw a

little Town about two Miles from him, he judg'd this to be the Town of

_Bandon_, by the Description which the Prisoner gave him of it; he

guessed now that he was near the Sea, and that it was nothing but the

high Land before him, which hindered him from the Sight of it; he

therefore set his best Foot forwards, to gain the Top of one of the

Hills before him; when he reached the Top, he had a fair View of the

Ocean, and looking stedfastly every Way, he fancied he saw something

like a Ship Eastward, but it was so far off, it was scarce discernable,

however, it revived his Heart, and he now thought himself safe; he also

perceived a pretty large River, at some Distance below him, in the

Valleys, which he must of Necessity pass, because it lay directly in his

Way, but as he was expert at Swimming, this gave him no great Dread,

therefore he made the best of his Way towards the said River; when he

arrived at the Banks, he perceived it was so rapid, that he apprehended

(he being a little weakened with the Fatigue of his Journey) the Current

would be too strong for him, and carry him into the Sea; he thought

therefore, there was no Way for him to get over, but to walk up further

in the Country, to find a Place where the Course of the River was

crooked, which always breaks the Rapidity of the Stream, and where he

might cross with less Danger.

While he was considering on this Matter, he chanced to look about, and

turning his Eyes upwards towards the Hill from whence he was newly

descended, and which was now betwixt two and three Miles Distance from

him, he saw six Men on the Top thereof; they seemed to stand still and

look about them for a while, but suddenly they started forwards, and

with great Precipitation made directly towards him; he could think no

less than that they were some sent in Pursuit of him, and that their

standing still at first, was to no other Purpose, than to try if they

could see him, and that their discovering him, was the Occasion of their

running so suddenly down the Hill afterwards. The Fear of the cruel

Death he should suffer, in Case he should be taken, hinder'd all further

Consideration, so that without any more examining them, he plunged

himself into the River, the Current was very strong, however, he made

Shift to stem it better than he expected; and when he got over near the

other Side, Providence so order'd it, that he was forced into a Part of

the River, where there was an eddy Water, which drove him upon the Bank,

so that in about the Space of half an Hour or a little more, he landed

safely on the other Side.

He was a little spent with his Swimming, when sitting down to take a

little Breath, he saw a Sight which terrified him as much as an Army of

Enemies at his Heels could have done; it was a monstruous Aligator lying

near the Bank-side, it appeared like some prodigious Oak in the Water,

and he has declared and given it under his Hand, that it seemed to him

large enough to swallow an Ox. At the same Time he beheld his Pursuers,

who were now arrived pretty near the opposite Bank, he started up, and

wing'd with Fear, flew rather than run, and there being some shrubby low

Wood near the River, he had Presence of Mind enough to make his Way

through them, knowing that if the Monster should follow him, it could

not pass that Way, because the Thickness of the Wood would hinder it,

besides it must presently lose Sight of him, and indeed it is likely,

that he owed his Escape to this lucky Thought; he run on with greater

Swiftness than at his first setting out, (for his Fear had supplied him

with new Spirits,) but not without often looking back, which gave him

the Comfort of knowing that the Monster and his Pursuers were both out

of Sight: When he had continued this Pace about two Hours, he came to a

Valley betwixt two rising Grounds, which lay open to the Sea, where he

was joyfully surprized with a full View of the Ship lying at an Anchor,

not above a Mile from the Shore, he hastened immediately towards the

Edge of the Water, and made a Signal to them, by waving his Cap over his

Head, for he thought it to no Purpose to hollow or call, because they

were at too great a Distance to hear him. He continued this Action a

considerable Time, and began to grow impatient and uneasy to the last

Degree, because he saw them return no Signal in Answer to him, whereby

he might understand that they saw him, or intended to succour him; but

he was soon relieved from this Fright also, by the sudden Appearance of

the Boat which was coming round the Point of Land very near him, she

being employed for some Time in rowing along Shore, in order to discover

if the Country was inhabited.

So great was his Joy at this Sight, and such was his Eagerness of

speaking with them, knowing by their Dress they were _Europeans_, that

he had not Patience to wait for their coming to him, but he ran hastily

into the Water to meet them; when he waded up to the Neck, he set

himself afloat and swam to the Boat, they proved to be _Dutchmen_;

however, they took him in, and observing the extream Satisfaction and

Joy which appeared in his Countenance, they were very desirous of

knowing who he was, and whence he came, they spoke to him in _Dutch_,

and tho' he knew but little of that Language, yet he made a Shift to let

them understand that he spoke _English_; there were two or three amongst

them that understood our Language, and one of them spoke it very well;

when he knew this, he gave them to understand in few Words that he was a

Christian, that he had been a Prisoner or Slave in that Country for

sixteen Years, that he had now made his Escape, and was pursued by six

Barbarians who were once come in Sight of him.

As they had Arms in their Boat, they had a Mind to stay a-while and see

whether these Barbarians would appear, for they had not beheld a human

Creature since they had lain there, and were of Opinion that the Country

was not inhabited, (tho' the Ship had been seen from the Hills by the

Natives) so they lay upon their Oars.

In about half an Hour five Men appear'd arm'd with Bows and Arrows, and

running a great Pace, they came to the Water-side, and beheld the Boat,

which was but a little Distance from them; the _Dutchmen_ fired two

Musquets, upon which they dispersed and fled hastily away, but a little

while after two of them came back again, and throwing down their Bows

and Arrows, upon the Shore-side, plung'd into the Sea, and seem'd to

direct their Way towards the Boat; the _Dutchmen_ were surpriz'd what

they could mean, but however, as nothing was to be fear'd from two naked

Men, they lay still to see what it would come to: In fine, the two

Barbarians swam to the Boat, and speaking to the Molotto, begg'd to be

taken in, and to go along with them, for that they should certainly be

put to some cruel Death if they went back, for not having taken him and

brought him back with them.

The _Dutchmen_ were willing to receive them, knowing they would be worth

Money to be sold for Slaves. When they got into the Boat, they gave an

Account of losing one of their Company in swimming over the River, where

they first had Sight of the Molotto, who was devoured by an Alligator,

in all Probability the same the Molotto had seen, and that the other

three would travel as far as they could from their own Country, in order

to save their Lives; but for their Parts, they chose rather to put

themselves on the Mercy of the white Men, than run the Hazard of being

taken, or starved in passing thro' Countries they did not know.

When he came on Board the Ship, he related to the Captain the whole

Story of his Adventures, who finding he had been a Sea-faring Man, and

that he understood Navigation pretty well, put him upon the Foot of an

able Seaman.

They remain'd here about three Weeks, the Winds continuing contrary till

then, in which Time they laid in Water and Wood, and diverted themselves

with Fishing; after this they sail'd for _Batavia_ in the _East-Indies_,

where having unladed and taken in a Cargoe of _India_ Goods, they sail'd

home for _Holland_; the Molotto made two or three Voyages with them, but

in the Year 1724, he being in _Holland_, and having a great Desire to

see his old Captain, he embark'd on the 28th of _March_ in _Holland_,

and pass'd into _England_, he found out his Captain who was alive, and

who being overjoy'd to see him, prov'd very generous to him, and

prevail'd with him to give in Writing the Particulars of all his

Adventures, from whose Copy the foregoing Narrative is faithfully taken.

As to the Molotto he return'd back to _Holland_, and sails still in the

Service of the _Dutch East-India_ Company, unless he is lately dead.

OF

Capt. _BELLAMY_.

As we cannot, with any Certainty, deduce this Man from his Origin, we

shall begin where we find him first a declared Enemy to Mankind. Capt.

_Bellamy_ and _Paul Williams_, in two Sloops, had been upon a _Spanish_

Wreck, and not finding their Expectation answered, as has been mentioned

in former Parts of this History, they resolved not to lose their Labour,

and agreed to go upon the Account, a Term among the Pyrates, which

speaks their Profession. The first, who had the Misfortune to fall in

their Way, was Captain _Prince_, bound from _Jamaica_ to _London_, in a

Galley built at that Port, whose Cargo consisted of Elephants Teeth,

Gold Dust, and other rich Merchandize. This Prize not only enrich'd, but

strengthened them; they immediately mounted this Galley with 28 Guns,

and put aboard 150 Hands of different Nations; _Bellamy_ was declared

Captain, and the Vessel had her old Name continued, which was _Whidaw_:

This happen'd about the latter End of _February_, 1717. They, now thus

fitted for the continuing of their desperate Resolution, shaped their

Course for _Virginia_, which Coast they very much infested, taking

several Vessels: They were upon shifting this Station, when they were

very near, as the Psalmist expresses it, _going quick down into Hell_,

for the Heaven's beginning to lowre, prognosticated a Storm; at the

first Appearance of the Sky being likely to be overcast, _Bellamy_ took

in all his small Sails, and _Williams_ double reefed his main Sail,

which was hardly done when a Thunder Shower overtook them with such

Violence, that the _Whidaw_ was very near over-setting; they immediately

put before the Wind, for they had no other Way of working, having only

the Goose Wings of the Fore-Sail to scud with; happy for them the Wind

was at _West_ and by _North_, for had it been Easterly, they must have

infallibly perish'd upon the Coast. The Storm encreased towards Night,

and not only put them by all Sail, but obliged the _Whidaw_ to bring her

Yards aportland, and all they could do with Tackles to the Goose Neck of

the Tiller, four Men in the Gun Room, and two at the Wheel, was to keep

her Head to the Sea, for had she once broach'd to, they must infallibly

have founder'd. The Heavens, in the mean while, were cover'd with Sheets

of Lightning, which the Sea by the Agitation of the saline Particles

seem'd to imitate; the Darkness of the Night was such, as the Scripture

says, as might be felt; the terrible hollow roaring of the Winds, cou'd

be only equalled by the repeated, I may say, incessant Claps of Thunder,

sufficient to strike a Dread of the supream Being, who commands the Sea

and the Winds, one would imagine in every Heart; but among these

Wretches, the Effect was different, for they endeavoured by their

Blasphemies, Oaths, and horrid Imprecations, to drown the Uproar of

jarring Elements. _Bellamy_ swore he was sorry he could not run out his

Guns to return the Salute, meaning the Thunder, that he fancied the Gods

had got drunk over their Tipple, and were gone together by the Ears:

They continued scudding all that Night under their bare Poles, the next

Morning the Main-Mast being sprung in the Step, they were forced to cut

it away, and, at the same time, the Mizzen came by the Board. These

Misfortunes made the Ship ring with Blasphemy, which was encreased,

when, by trying the Pumps, they found the Ship made a great Deal of

Water; tho' by continually plying them, it kept it from gaining upon

them: The Sloop as well as the Ship, was left to the Mercy of the Winds,

tho' the former, not having a Tant-Mast, did not lose it. The Wind

shifting round the Compass, made so outrageous and short a Sea, that

they had little Hopes of Safety; it broke upon the Poop, drove in the

Taveril, and wash'd the two Men away from the Wheel, who were saved in

the Netting. The Wind after four Days and three Nights abated of its

Fury, and fixed in the North, North East Point, hourly decreasing, and

the Weather clearing up, so that they spoke to the Sloop, and resolv'd

for the Coast of _Carolina_; they continued this Course but a Day and a

Night, when the Wind coming about to the Southward, they changed their

Resolution to that of going to _Rhode Island_. All this while the

_Whidaw_'s Leak continued, and it was as much as the Lee-Pump could do

to keep the Water from gaining, tho' it was kept continually going.

Jury-Masts were set up, and the Carpenter finding the Leak to be in the

Bows, occasioned by the Oakam spewing out of a Seam, the Crew became

very jovial again; the Sloop received no other Damage than the Loss of

the Main-Sail, which the first Flurry tore away from the Boom. In their

Cruise off _Rhode Island_, the Beginning of _April_, they took a Sloop

commanded by Capt. _Beer_, belonging to _Boston_, in the Lat. of _South

Carolina_, 40 Leagues from Land; they put the said Captain on Board the

_Whidaw_ Commodore, while they rifled and plundered his Vessel, which

_Williams_ and _Bellamy_ proposed returning to him, but the Crews being

averse to it, they sunk her, and put the Captain ashore upon _Block

Island_.