Chapter XII (5)

The _Bum-boy_ again supervises the Slaves, to do justice between Buyer and Seller, and by the Custom or Law of the Country, the Ship is to stand charged with neither them or other Effects, till delivered into the Boat. However, considering what are their Courts of Justice, it will behove all Masters to have a diligent Inspection upon the Slaves themselves, and to keep good Locks and Bolts upon their Goods: for it is here, as at _Whydah_, the commonest People, who cannot arrive at, or forbid Trade, are all Thieves and Beggars, the King and Courtiers chief, but _openly_ more honest, because they get more by it.

Your Gold-takers are, _Peter Griffin_, (the King’s Brother-in-law) _Thomas Boon_, and _John Brown_. Sometimes Ships settle an Agency at _Mumbalar_, or other neighbouring Place, and get considerable Trade; I have known 70 Slaves purchased there in a Month, with the additional Duty of six _Pieces_, and giving to the Servants who fetched up the Goods, each a single Annabass, a bundle of Beads, three Knives, and a Dram: with all, let your Agreements be as positive as possible, for they are very difficultly kept to their Words.

When we are slaved and out at Sea, it is commonly imagined, the _Negroes_ Ignorance of Navigation, will always be a Safeguard; yet, as many of them think themselves bought to eat, and more, that Death will send them into their own Country, there has not been wanting Examples of rising and killing a Ship’s Company, distant from Land, tho’ not so often as on the Coast; but once or twice is enough to shew, a Master’s Care and Diligence should never be over till the Delivery of them. Some _Negroes_ know well enough, that the preserving one white Man may answer their Purpose in an Exchange; however, generally speaking, we allow greater Liberty in our Passage, as conducive to their Health; we let them go at large on the Ship’s Deck, from Sun-rise to Sun-set, give such as like it, Pipes and Tobacco, and clean and air their Dormitories every day.

Having given my Sentiments of the way and method of Trade at different parts of the _Guinea_ Coast, I have still some remaining Observations to make under the chief Articles of it, _viz._ _Slaves, Ivory, and Gold_.

_SLAVES._

Slaves become so (we are told) in this Country, by War, by Mulcts on some particular Crimes, or Debts which they are unable to discharge; and they are bought by us (some say) not as Merchants, but Christians, to preserve them from Sacrifice and Cannibals, to convey them to a Land flowing with more Milk and Honey, to a better Living, better Manners, Virtue, and Religion; let us examine each of these Pretences.

_First_, the _Negroes_. By War for the most part is meant Robbery of inland, defenceless Creatures, who are hurried down to the Coast with the greater Cruelty, as it is from a contented, tho’ a very poor Life. Trade has improved the Robbers, but as all are not alike expert, or alike Villains, it is alterable, ebbs and flows, and at some places we have never yet had any.

2. The _Negroes_ become Slaves to one another, by Mulcts imposed on some sort of Crimes, or Debts contracted beyond their Ability to discharge. Few come to us this way; for tho’ much Artifice and Revenge might mix in their _Palaavers_ (Justiciary Courts) yet their Jurisdiction extends not beyond their own Towns, when Self-preservation will teach them more regard to Justice for their own sakes, lest the Relations of those sentenced should revenge it, and also because the Barbarity would encrease an Enmity to the Rulers, the Punishment falling on Neighbours of the same Country, Complexion, Language, and Religion.

We who buy Slaves, say we confer a Good, removing them to a better state both of Temporals and Spirituals; the latter, few have the Hypocrisy (among us) to [35]own, and therefore I shall only touch on the former.

They live indeed, according to our _European_ Phrase, very poor and mean, destitute almost of the common Necessaries of Life; but never starve, that is peculiar to trading Republicks; then who is judge of their Wants, themselves, or we? Or what does Poorness mean? more than a sound, to signify we have that which another does not want. Do not many men in politer Nations, renounce the World for Cloisters and Desarts, and place a greater happiness in preserving their Innocence, than enjoying even the Necessaries of Life; nay, often ravished with the neglect of them. Wherever therefore Contentment can dwell, tho’ under the meanest Circumstances, it is a barbarous Corruption to stile such poor, for they have every thing they desire, or, which is much the same, are happily ignorant of any thing more desirable.

To remove _Negroes_ then from their Homes and Friends, where they are at ease, to a strange Country, People, and Language, must be highly offending against the Laws of natural Justice and Humanity; and especially when this change is to hard Labour, corporal Punishment, and for _Masters_ they wish at the D——l.

We are Accessaries by Trade, to all that Cruelty of their Countrymen, which has subjected them to the Condition of Slaves, little better in our Plantations, than that of Cattle; the Rigour of their usage having made some hundreds of them at _Jamaica_ run away into barren Mountains, where they chuse to trust Providence with their Subsistance, rather than _their Fellow-Christians_ (_now_) in the Plantations.

_Slaves_ differ in their Goodness; those from the _Gold Coast_ are accounted best, being cleaned limbed, and more docible by our Settlements than others; but then they are, for that very reason, more prompt to Revenge, and murder the Instruments of their Slavery, and also apter in the means to compass it.

To Windward they approach in Goodness as is the distance from the Gold Coast; so, as at _Gambia_, or _Sierraleon_, to be much better, than at any of the interjacent places.

To Leeward from thence, they alter gradually for the worse; an _Angolan Negro_ is a Proverb for worthlessness; and they mend (if we may call it so) in that way, till you come to the _Hottentots_, that is, to the Southermost Extremity of _Africa_.

I have observed how our Trading is managed for Slaves, when obliged to be carried on aboard the Ship.—Where there are Factories, (_Gambia_, _Sierraleon_, _the Gold Coast_, _Whydah_, _Calabar_, _Cabenda_, and _Angola_,) we are more at large; they are sold in open Market on shore, and examined by us in like manner, as our Brother Trade do Beasts in _Smithfield_; the Countenance, and Stature, a good Set of Teeth, Pliancy in their Limbs and Joints, and being free of Venereal Taint, are the things inspected, and governs our choice in buying.

The bulk of them are country People, stupid as is their distance from the Converse of the Coast-_Negroes_, eat all day if Victuals is before them; or if not, let it alone without Complaint; part without Tears with their Wives, Children, and Country, and are more affected with Pain than Death: yet in this indocile State, the Women retain a Modesty, for tho’ stripped of that poor Clout which covers their Privities (as I know the _Whydahs_ generally do) they will keep squatted all day long on board, to hide them.

_Whydah_ Slaves are more subject to Small-Pox, and sore Eyes; other parts to a sleepy Distemper, and to Windward, _Exomphalos’s_. There are few Instances of Deformity any where; even their Nobles know nothing of chronical Distempers, nor their Ladies, of the Vapours. Their flattish Noses are owing to a continued grubbing in their Infancy against their Mother’s Backs, being tied within the _Tomee_, whether upon Travel or Business, for a year or two, the time of their sucking.

_IVORY._

Ivory is a Commodity sold all the Coast over, but, like the Slaves, more in some parts than others, and supplied thence to all the Western World. It is in _Teeth or Screvelios_. The Teeth are the large, weighing from 30 to an hundred weight, are worth double the other at home; these selling for ten or twelve pounds, when those do not for above 5_l._ a hundred.

The _Screvelios_ are small, from fifteen down to four Pounds weight; among these last are sold us to Windward, the Teeth of the _Hippopotamus_, or _Sea-Horse_, catched in the Rivers _Nunes_ and _Gambia_, about 16 Inches long, a white Ivory, but so brittle as not to be easily worked.

The Rule upon the Coast is, that when four will weigh an hundred weight, they shall all be accounted Teeth, and paid for as such, tho’ one or two of them be never so small; for the more Teeth encrease in their weight, the better the Ivory, and makes amends for the smallness of the other.

At _Gambia_, the points of them are often found broken, from the Elephant’s grubbing against rocky Ground; at other times, you see them flawed, or they are light in proportion to their bigness, Circumstances that abate their value.

I have been often ruminating, how the trading _Negroes_ come by these Elephants Teeth, and find they exchange our _European_ Commodities with the inland Natives for them; but whether they again shoot the Elephants, or find their Teeth in travelling through the Woods and Desarts, is uncertain. Their Rivers and Canoos indeed, help to extend their Knowledge a vast way through the Country, and there are some Accounts that tell us, the _Negroes_ scituated upon these Rivers (like the _Americans_) make Excursion, or Voyages of a month or two, from their Habitations.

Mr. _Plunket_ of _Sierraleon_, and others of above twenty years experience in those parts, have informed me, that Elephants move and change their Pasture in very large Herds; that they have seen Droves upon the Banks of the _Gambia_, of a thousand and fifteen hundred together; that they are bold, have a tough Case, forage less than Horses, and look out much better: from the Circumstance of number, and boldness of their March (said to be in a line) they seem secured from any attacks of the timorous Natives, who must come very near, or their Skin is impenetrable by Fire-arms. Besides, Ivory was the Trade of _Guinea_, before the use of them, to which I may add, the weighty Teeth come to Sale in a less number than the _Screvelios_; altogether persuading me, they are not shot, but that the larger Size are Teeth of Elephants who have died naturally, and which being grown to their utmost Perfection and Solidity, withstand a very considerable Elapse of time, without decay or mouldering; and that the _Screvelios_ are probably such as are shed when young, the like as we meet in the human Species, or as Bucks do their Horns, which the Natives by practice know where to look for.

_GOLD._

The Gold of _Guinea_ is mostly traded for at the _Gold Coast_ (thence denominated) and is either _in Fetish, in Lump, or in Dust_.

The _Fetish-Gold_ is that which the _Negroes_ cast into various Shapes, and wear as Ornaments at their Ears, Arms, and Legs, but chiefly at their Head, entangled very dextrously in the Wool; it is so called, from some Superstition (we do not well understand) in the Form, or in their Application and Use, commonly mixed with some baser Metal, to be judged of by the Touch-Stone, and skill of the Buyer you employ.

The _Lump_, or Rock Gold, is in pieces of different weights, pretended to be brought our of Mines. I saw one of these which Mr. _Phips_ had at Cape _Corso_, weighing thirty Ounces, they are always suspected to be artificial, and by the cunning Fellows in Trade, cast so, to hide some baser mixture of Silver, Copper or Brass: wherefore it is not safe trusting to the antique, dirty look, but to cut or run it for satisfaction.

_Dust_ Gold is the common Traffick, the best comes hither from the neighbouring inland Kingdoms of _Dinkira_, _Akim_, and _Arcana_, and is got (we are told) out of the River-Sands. _Tagus_ in _Portugal_ was once so famed;

_Omnis arena Tagi, quodque in mare volvitur aurum._
Juvenal. Satir. 3.

The Natives dig Pits nigh the Water-falls of Mountains abounding with this Metal; the Ponderosity of their Particles sinking them there: and then with incredible Pains and Industry, they wash the Earth and Sand in Trays and Vessels till it all swims off, and they espy at bottom now and then two or three shining Grains of Gold that pays them (without great Fortune) only as Labourers.

This is the most probable Account, how they come by their Gold on this Coast: For if it were through Mines, and from Kingdoms so nearly bordering on our Factories as _Arcana_ (whence the best and purest) it would long since, I imagine, have tempted us, or the _Dutch_ to have dispossessed the Natives, and worked them solely to our own use.

Gold Dust is not gathered at _any_ part of the same River, it’s said, but at convenient Spots nearest the Mountains; because when too distant from the Floods that wash through Mines, their Weight buries them too deep, or disperses their Particles too widely, to answer the Labour of Searching.

Masters of Ships customarily hire a Native, at so much _per_ month, for this part of the Trade; he has a quicker sight at knowing, and by Practice, readier at separating the drossy and false Gold, with which the true has ever some Mixture, to impose on unskilful People. This impure Stuff is called _Crackra_, a Pin or brass Dust, current upon the Gold Coast among themselves, but is a gross Cheat in Traffick, some of it is very bad.

The way to separate, is by copper Blow-pans, shaped like Fire-Shovels; into this your Gold-taker throws three or four Ounces at a time, and by gently tossing, and blowing upon it, the lightest being the false, flies off: the larger Grains he discriminates by his sight, and separates by his Fingers with a wonderful dexterity.

Their way of counting Gold at the Factories, is by Ounces, Bendees, and Marks, lesser are Dumbays, and Doccys, or Toccus; 12 of this, or 24 of that, make an _Accy_, (about 5_s._)

All reserve it in Leather Pouches, and at _London_, the Gold-Smith runs it down in a [36]Crucible at two pence _per_ Ounce; it’s kept dissolved for the Evaporation of Dross, (perhaps one Ounce in a hundred) and then cast into a solid Bar; a Chip from it he sends to the Assay-master in the _Tower_, who by his Office is Judge, and on a small Fee, signs back a Note of it’s Value, that is, how much above, or under Sterling; and so amounts to a Shilling or two over or under 4_l._ a _Troy_ Ounce.

_Our Return upon the Gold Coast._

At our coming hither in _October_ 1721, we understood every where that the Pyrates under the Command of _Roberts_, had been plundering the Ships down the whole Coast, but were then supposed gone off: the latest Account of any who had suffered, being in _August_ last. We therefore, under no Apprehension of their Return, divided the Provisions had been sent hither from _England_ to us, and leaving the _Weymouth_ (the worst disabled Ship of the two) in Cape _Corso_ Road, stretch’d away to Windward again, the Beginning of _November_, in order to _mann_, by the Purchase of Slaves, and impressing Sailors from the Merchant Vessels; the latter we had little Occasion of, their ill Treatment, and bad Diet (or a Pretence of it) making them all Volunteers that could be spared.

At _Succonda we heel’d and scrubbed Ship_, a Ledge of Rock shooting from the western Point nigh a League, making it a smoother Sea than any of the neighbouring Places; and this little Check given to the Water, we observed, made the Bay flow a foot or two higher than any part of the plain Coast.

At _Dixcove_, the Windermost of our Gold-Coast Factories, we heard by the _Carlton_, that the Soldiers who had come out under our Convoy for the _African_ Company’s Service at _Gambia_, had unhappily mutiny’d with Captain _Massey_ one of their Officers; disdaining the bad usage of the Merchants who had the Command and Victualling of them, they spiked up the Guns, and retir’d to the Ship which had brought them over, (the _Bumper_) and there by a joint Consent of _George Lowther_ the second Mate, and some of the Sailors, proceeded to Sea; the Effect of which, _see in the History of the Pyrates_.

At _Apollonia_ we found all our old Acquaintance were gone: The Queen that had two or three Months ago sent off a _Dashee_ of four _Accys_, was lately, with her People, forced to move to _Assinee_.

There are a numerous People called _Santies_, or _Assanties_, extending a long way on the back of them, who derive a considerable Trade to the Coast, particularly at _Anamaboo_. This Nation, provoked by the frequent Depredations and _Panyarrs_ of the _Apollonians_, had lately been down and drove them from their Habitations; tho’ themselves, unwilling to own the Roguery, say it has proceeded from the Instigation of _Jan Conny_ their Neighbour and Competitor. At _Assinee_ therefore, we found them preparing to revenge this Injury, buying up all our trading Arms at a good Price, and giving a Fowl for every Flint we could spare, (there being no such thing in the Country.) They are as fearless as any of the Colour, both in Trade and War, and promise themselves an Amendment of their Fortune, which, by accounts since, I hear they have accomplished against _Conny_.

At Cape _Three Points_ we found our Water-Pond almost dried up, tho’ the Wind at S. E. had lately brought on two or three heavy Showers of Rain, and they failing, constant thick Fogs in the day, and what is very unusual at the distance we anchor, Dews in the night on board: _The Current to Westward_. In this Bay, two or three Evenings running, we saw a monstrous Fish heavily moving about the Ship, divided into eight or ten different Parts, each as large as a _Thornback_, sinking immediately at the throwing over a Hook; the Sailors call it a _Devil-Fish_. _Fire-Flies_ also, (common to warm Latitudes,) flew about in the night; an Insect that makes the like light in the Air, as _Glow-Worms_ on the Ground.

What I shall farther observe from this Cruise or the Circuit we have made, I never yet met either of those useful Animals, a Dog or a Horse, among the Natives; the latter, _Bosman_ (who writes of _Guinea_) says, are numerous in-land; and of the other, _their Bark turns to a Howl in three or four Broods, their Ears and Colour inclining to a Fox_. Those I have seen, and not hitherto mentioned, are, among _Quadrupeds_, the Cat, Hare, Rat, Lizzard, Boar, Porcupine, Civet-Cat, Camelion, and Petto or Sluggard, from the Slowness of his March; he will grow lean in the time he takes to ascend a Tree, and never comes down till he has devoured all the Fruit. _Birds_, the Parrot, Paraquet, Pheasant, Partridge, Wild-Duck, Turtle-Dove, Snipe, Kite, and others. _Fish_, the Jack, Plaise, Sole, Bream, Thornback, Dab, Lobster, Crab, Shrimp, _&c._ _Reptiles_, the Toad, Scorpion, Centipes.

_PYRATES._

As _Roberts_ the Pyrate, by the bold Sweep made in _August_, had struck a Pannick into the Traders, we were several times in our late Cruise alarmed with Stories of their being again to Windward; which kept us _Plying_, till others contradicting such Report, and considered with the rashness of the Attempt, returned us to our Rendesvouz in Cape _Corso_ Road, where we had scarce well arrived, before Mr. _Phips_ received Intelligence by two or three Canoos dispatched to him, of Vessels chased and taken by them a few Leagues off, committing great Cruelties. They were well manned, we understood, having increased their number greatly by this double Expedition, and the Reputation of their Success; the Seamen every where entering, notwithstanding our neighbourhood, and where they refused, by report, ’twas oftner thro’ Fear, than any detestation of the Practice.

The Conclusion from our Advices, was to follow them to _Whydah_; for avoiding this Road, (which it might be imagined they would do, in respect to our being there) the next and chiefest Place for Booty was there. We missed them however by 24 hours, but following quickly to Cape _Lopez_, luckily fixed the Limits of their Navigation; their Drunkenness, Inadvertency, and Disorder, making them fall an easy Prize to us.

Discipline is certainly an excellent Path to Victory; we see it through all Nations, who in some ages are warlike, in others effeminate. Courage, locutory or military, like a Trade, is gained by an Apprenticeship. The Coward to-day, may seven years hence become a brave Fellow, and metamorphosed again, perhaps by a bad Wife, or other adverse Fortune. What makes our Militia laughed at, even by Men draughted from them? only because they want that constant Discipline, the red Coat and martial Law, that makes the other terrible: Every Man in standing Troops, is in a School of Exercise, where, if not dull, he may acquire the Tread, the Talk, and Courage of a Hero.[37] Subordination is an Essential to it in this very Discipline; the Gentleman brought up ever so tamely, finding a Courage with his Commission, and for the most part, increasing as he becomes a Captain, a Colonel, or a General. The Pyrates, tho’ singly Fellows of Courage, yet wanting such a Tye of Order, some Director to unite that Force, were a contemptible Enemy, neither killed nor wounded us a man in taking them, and must ever, in the same Circumstances, be the Fate of such Rabble.

We found in the three Ships about 200 _Englishmen_, 60 or 70 stout _Negro_ Slaves, great plenty of trading Goods, and, what more attracted the Eye, a large quantity of Gold Dust, by computation, 8 or 10000_l._ the Searches made, and the Diligence of the Officers in those Searches, imagining themselves to have some share in the Heap, makes that Sum very probable; the Pyrates themselves giving out double: for all which, the Commander at home obtained the Privy-Seal.

The People, their Wives, and Widows, who thought themselves injured in this Seclusion, petitioned the Lords-Commissioners of the Admiralty, the Secretaries, and other Officers of State, for a Recall of this Grant; _sine Auspiciis_. The Officers joined also in a Petition for the E—— of _B——y_’s Interposition, to obtain for them the Division of any Sum they might prove, over and above what was suggested in obtaining the Privy-Seal;—and with the same Success.

To return from this Excursion; the number of our Prisoners gave a great deal of fatigue and uneasiness, during a six Weeks Passage, lest the danger of a Halter should prompt them to some desperate Attempt for their Liberty; but arriving safe at Cape _Corso_ again, they were there brought to their Tryals, hang’d, or acquitted; the Court allowing for the Office of Register,

26 Days Attendance, at 30_s._ } _l. s. d._
_per Diem_, for which at } 26 00 0
home ⅓ was deducted }
The Provost, 7_s._ 6_d._ _per Diem_ 9 15 0

The General of the Coast gave the Table, which made the whole Charge rest upon those two Articles, the cheapest since the Reformation.

_St. George de ELMINA._

During our Stay in the Road, an Officer or two of us took an Interval to wait on Mr. _Butler_, the Director-General for the _Dutch_ at _St. George de Elmina_, three Leagues to Windward; he received us so much the more kindly, that in eighteen years which he had resided on the Coast, he had seldom been visited by his Countrymen, and of late, not at all, which he imputed to the Misunderstandings that were frequently happening between him and his Neighbour, Mr. _Phips_, on account of Trade; they could not pay him this Compliment without offending the other. His Table had ten Dishes of Victuals, an extraordinary Shew in a part of such Scarcity, with variety of Beer and Wine, and an attendance of six _Negro_ Servants, each a gold Chain about his Neck, the largeness distinguishing Grandeur, as fine Cloth or Lace does a Livery.

After Dinner, Mr. _Butler_ gave us four gold Rings a-piece, (the Make of the Country) a Trifle, he said, to remember him, and then shewed us their Apartments and Store-houses, large, and well stocked.

The Castle, taken from the _Portuguese_ in 1638, is a Quadrangle, like that of Cape _Corso_, but has a double Ditch round, cut out of a Rock, which like Basins hold the Rain-water, and give additional Strength; a populous _Negro_ Town at the foot of it, under their Protection.

From hence, we retired for the Afternoon to a Summer-house in his Garden, and in the Evening his Officers attended us to the Boat, where we were still followed with Marks of undeserved Respect, three or four Rooves of _Brasil_ Sugar, (then a Commodity) and at putting off, a Salute of nine Guns. The worst part of our Fare came afterwards, when we could not commend this Hospitality and Generosity of Mr. _Butler_, without indirect Reflections upon our own Castle.

On the 1st of _May_ 1722, we left Cape _Corso_, (for my own part, I hope till Doom’s-Day) and on the third, came down to _Whydah_. Here we took a Sailor out of a _Portuguese_ Ship, that had been a Confederate in seizing Captain _Rowry_’s Vessel, as mentioned before at _St. Thomas’s_; he, on the Reflection of his Crime, and a Fear of worse Evil, cut his Throat, and died. About this time I was appointed _Purser_ to the _Weymouth_, (a _Bursier_, the Officer in Colleges, that takes care of their Accounts) every body being dead almost, that could do it: and with Reluctancy in me, because not skill’d in the _Employ_, and neither Cooper, Steward, or Necessaries on board; but the Indulgence I expected on these accounts from a worthy Commander, and some little Advantage in quitting the Surgeon’s Employ, were Persuasives.

From _Whydah_, both Men-of-War steered away for Cape _Lopez_, to wood and water, in order for the _West-Indies_.

_Cape LOPEZ._

Cape _Lopez_ makes a safe and pleasant Bay, our anchoring in 20 Fathom Water, the Cape N W B N, the Watering-place S B E, each a mile and half distance.

Coming in, we bring the Cape S. S. W. to avoid what most Charts lay down, the Shoal called _Frenchman’s Bank_, about a League and half N. N. E. from the Cape; and some say there are other Shoals between that and the _Main_ to the Northward.

The Cape is low and steep, yet looks bluff with Trees, has some _Savannahs_ behind, the resort of _Buffaloes_; I have seen a dozen head at a time here, which, when you are minded to hunt or shoot, the _Negroes_ are ready to assist. The Bay is well stored with Fish, and the Country affords Plantains, Goats, Fowls, and particularly grey Parrots, all cheap; but their principal trading Commodities are Wax in Cakes, and Honey, exchanged with us on easy terms, for Linnen, Calicos, Stuffs, Pewter Spoons, Knives, _&c._ and it is the Seal of all Bargains, to take hold of one another’s Hands and say, _Palaaver suquebah_.

_Pou_, or Wood, is after the rate of a Fathom, for an old _Guinea_ Sheet; their Water free, and easy come at, but is a standing Pool, and not so well-tasted therefore as Springs.

The Natives are harmless and inoffensive, never sell one another. But when Ships come in, flock towards the Bay with Wax, Honey, a few Teeth, and little Gold; which last, I rather believe, is brought thither, because not one of them seemed to know the Value of it. They are timorous, and therefore have their Habitations at a distance from the Sea, few of them venturing on board a Ship; feared, I suppose, by the Tricks have formerly been put upon them by our Traders: so that we barter altogether on shore, where they attend for that purpose.

Their familiar Salute at meeting, is by clapping their hands two or three times, to one another. To a Superior, (the _Cabiceer_, or the Aged) they bend the Knee, raising first their Hands to the out-parts of their Shoulders or Arms, then patting the other’s Hands gently three times, they cry _Chamba_ at each time, and retreat with three times clapping their own hands:—to profess an extraordinary Friendship to you, they raise your Hand as high as they can reach.

Many of them have borrowed Names from the _Europeans_ that put in here, and are pleased when you will adopt them to wear such a Cognizance of your Remembrance; they do not sollicit this Favour till after several views, that they see something to be admired, or that the Person asked, has a fancied Sympathy of Temper, or likeness with themselves.

As they come down to trade in Tribes, each has a Captain or Leader, who always craves or claims some _Dashee_, before you strike a Bargain with any of the other _Negroes_; a Bottle of Brandy, a Sabre, Knife, or any ordinary Apparel is acceptable; _the Chief_ loves to distinguish himself by an Imitation of our Dress, and is often so preposterously set out with Hat, Wig, and Breeches, that he makes a fifty times more ridiculous, and scaramouch Figure, than any of his naked Dependants.

_Jacobus_ was one of these; he takes on him the Title of King, without knowing the meaning, and came on board to visit us in a very antick Figure; an old Sailor’s Wig turned upside down, half a pair of Breeches, Jacket, Hat, _&c._ yet this Man seemed to be reverenced much by the others, and in drinking, two of them always held up a Cloth before his Face, that he might not be seen; the Custom seems to have a State in it, and borrowed perhaps from some neighbouring Monarch: He of _Monomotapa_, it is said, never drinks, but the Court put up their Prayers with a loud Voice, which being heard by others, is transmitted over the whole Town.

As _Jacobus_ and his Company grew drunk, (for they swallowed nothing but Bumpers of Brandy) I observed this Respect was laid aside; and what was a greater Misfortune, the Prince and his Retinue beheld with winking Eyes, all their Hovels on fire ashore: The Occasion this; we happening to have all our Colours flying, and some Guns let off in honour of the 28th of _May_, another Leader on shore misinterpreting it as a particular Respect to _Jacobus_, grew jealous, seized his House during the Revel, his Wives, and his _Dashees_, drank up all his Brandy, eat all his Victuals, cudgelled his People, and set both his Houses on fire.

Next Morning, on unravelling the Mystery, the Surprize was over, and all became good Friends again. They have very little Knowledge or Use of Fire-Arms, because no Trade scarce; their Weapons being Spears, Arrows, and Clubs, and it is a bloody Battle among them, when half a dozen of a side are knocked down.

A VOYAGE TO _Brasil_, and the _West-Indies._

From Cape _Lopez_ (parting with the Coast) we came in sight of the Island _Annabona_, the Breezes small at South, and Calms alternatively; hereabout we cruised three or four days, for our Consort the _Swallow_, that some how or other was separated; and missing her, bore away for _Brasil_.

In the Passage it may be first observed, that when we had sailed ninety Leagues to the Westward, and got into 3°° S. the Winds that were at South veered, so as to become a true S E. _Trade_, that carried us four or five _Knots_.——And still as we advanced farther Westward, it blew fresher at E S E. 7, 8, and 9 _Knots_ constantly, with neither Thunder nor Lightning. _Quære_, whether this distance is not a proper Medium to allow for the Attraction of all Exhalations by the Land; at least that they considerably abate after that length from all Shores, allowing for Latitude, and as they are Montainous or Plain. We see within this Dimension, (plainly) that it takes off the Influence of the Sun, and varys the _Trade_ Wind towards itself: Nor is it so astonishing, since Animals themselves obey; several sorts of Fish and Fowl have a periodical return to such and such places, and not so of those inhabiting the more stable Element of Land: Wherefore it is highly rational to think, that as the fluid Elements they live in yield _to the attractive Power of the Earth and Planets_, so also their Inhabitants have their Instinct more sensibly fated by them.

_Secondly_, in this _Trade_-Wind sailing, we are every day diverted with flying Fish, Bonetos, and Sea-Fowl; the Sails require little labour in _trimming_, the Ship goes steady, and the Bowl unslung; so that at leaving such a Country we might cheerfully sing,

_How happy were we, when the Wind blew abaft!_

One of these cheerful Evenings, eleven at night, the full Moon became totally eclipsed, a Darkness surprizing, as it was unexpected; when she had recovered her Light, we repeated our Sacrifice in Bowls, and fell into Reflections and Admiration of that Power which supports the Regularity of the planetary Motions, and the Sublimity of that Art which can so exactly calculate them: They demonstrate the Sphericity of the Earth, because Countries, as they are farther East or West, observe them hours sooner or later, according to their Longitude, which could not be on a Plain, but visible to all at once.

This Longitude therefore in a general View, is the same thing as Time, the difference of it being the distance East and West of any two places, allowing 15 Degrees, or 300 Leagues to an Hour; the whole 24 being lost or gained in a Circum-navigation of the Globe, West or Eastward.

A natural, tho’ hitherto incorrect way of estimating the Parts of Longitude _in those Runs_, till Instruments and Rules are discovered, is, I think, _First_, to make exact Tables of the Sun’s Risings and Settings, at Places commonly departed from, and those we go to for every day in the year: and then, _Secondly_, to carry two proved Watches of equal Goodness, kept in equal Warmth, and freest from Motion and Weather, to measure the difference of time where you are, by the same edge of the Sun the Tables were made from; the Minutes sooner or later, according as you go East or West, is so many Leagues of Longitude for that day. I would insinuate by this only my Opinion, that those literal _Improvers_ of Time, the Watch Makers, bid as fair for the Discovery of Longitude as the Astronomer; for if Watches can be made not to err above two or three Minutes in the time a Ship is running 1000 Leagues, or if they do err more, a Rule could be found how much, (like as an Azimuth corrects the common Compass;) or if any _Movement_ could be depended on only from Observation to Observation, then the Error would be no greater than what is met in different Quadrants, observing Latitude. As it is, it seems a proper Method to correct or assist the present Rules of calculating meridional Distance.

We made this Passage of 8 or 900 Leagues to _Brasil_ in three Weeks; but having elsewhere given my Observations on the Country, I shall only take notice that the _Trade_ blowing very fresh, and bringing in a great Swell, we hastened from the Coast to our intended Ports in the _West-Indies_.

In our Progress thither, a Remark or two: _First_, that in the Navigation from _Brasil_, we crossed the Æquinoctial, two or three Degrees W. of Cape _Roque_, keeping on with a pleasant S E. _Trade_ that gradually lessened, and in 4°° North Latitude, left us in Calms, Rains, and uncertain Squalls, (varying round the Compass;) That this continued for several days, till we drew in or near the Parallel of _Barbados_, and then we as gradually had obtained the _Trade_ to Northward of the East, running 150 Leagues with it, that is, to _Barbados_.

_Secondly_, The reason of Calms, and Rains met in Latitudes between 4°° and 11°° N. (with a little Variation, as the Sun is of this or that side the Equinoctial) is probably from a Contest between the N E. and S E. _Trade_; but whether the passing them be more favourable far to the Eastward or Westward, I am uncertain.

_BARBADOS._

_Barbados_ was discovered by Sir _William Carter_, in King _James_ I’s time, planted to little purpose until 1627; since which, the Crops have been so advantageous, as to have raised the Price of Ground thirty fold.

We anchored here in _Carlisle-Bay_ the beginning of _August_, the resort of most Shipping who load at this Island. The Bay is made by _Needham and Pelican Points_; the Anchorage 20 Fathom, so clear Water that you may see to the bottom; but so foul and rocky, that the Cables are always buoy’d up with Cask. In the bottom of the Bay stands _Bridgetown_, the principal of the Island, and is the Residence of the Governor, Factors, and Merchants, who transact their Business here and at their Plantations alternately. There is only one large Church, with an Organ, and about twenty Chappels at different parts of the Island, all Episcopal, there having been no _Dissenters_ these many years. The People are for the most part polite and well-bred, promoting Trade by a magnificent way of living; the chief of them are Colonels, or Captains of Militia, and in the Assembly are divided into a Party-Interest, on the civil Affairs of the Island, their chief Distinction; murmuring, or elate, just as they are in or out of the Governor’s Favour, who can abate in the Customs, or imploy in the Application: (tho’ by the way the fewer Officers, and those Menials, the better advantage to him.)

The whole is a _sweet_ Spot of Earth, not a Span hardly uncultivated with Sugar-Canes; all sides bend with an easy Declivity to the Sea, and is ever green: This delight to the Planter has its Inconveniencies, that there is no Recreation out of Business, but in Drinking or Gaming.

The Propriety was given by King _James_ I. to the Earl of _Carlisle_; and _Anno_ 1661, King _Charles_ II. purchased it back of Lord _Kinoul_, that Earl’s Heir, allowing him 1000_l._ _per Ann._ Acknowledgment.

_Anno_ 1663, an Act passed by the President (who acts as Governor in their absence) the Council and Assembly, for 4½ in Specie Duty of all Commodities, the Produce of the Island, which it’s computed will amount to 10000_l._ _per Annum._—_Madeira_ Wines imported, at 4_l._ 10_s._ _per_ Pipe, raises 7000_l._ and this, with one Pound of Gunpowder _per_ Tun on each Ship, is appropriated for Stores, and Repairs to Forts.

The Governor is appointed by the King, his Salary formerly used to arise at an uncertain Sum of 4 or 5000_l._ _per Ann._ from Presents and Perquisites, since fixed at 1200_l._, 2000_l._ and now is 6000_l._ And as the Council, _a part of their Constitution_, is in a manner of his own Nomination, being appointed by Letters of _Mandamus_, as they have Power to make Demands on ancient Perquisites, and sway in the Application of the publick Money; there are various ways of obliging, and his Party will always be uppermost in the _Legislature_, which consists of him, the Council of twelve, and an Assembly of twenty two, chose at the several Parishes by a Majority of Votes.

One Law is, _That no Inhabitant shall be carried off the Island without Leave; whoever engages in the Project, is liable to the Debts_; so that when a Family sees Ruin approaching, (a frequent Case of late years) their Remedy is stealing away in Boats to some other Place of Subsistence; and if they cannot this way escape a hard _Creditor_, they comfort themselves in dying, that it may be their Lot next. Those who depart fairly, are obliged to give publick notice at the Secretary’s Office; and no body objecting in twenty one days, are at liberty.

Another Act in 1676, passed against the Industry of the Quakers, whose Conversion of the Negroes, it was pretended, hazarded the Safety of the Island. They are computed at 80 or 90000, and are countenanced in Polygamy; yet not dangerous, because no Mountains to fly to, Detections and Executions would soon follow their Rebellions. The _English_ are reckoned 20000, the Women among them most _Scotch_ and _Irish_, very homely, and great Swearers. The Men, contrarily, are very gay, clean, and handsome, from mean Originals, often succeeding with rich Widows; it being but Justice to link a fat Plantation to the truely nauseous Draught of Matrimony.

The way of feeding such a Multitude, and providing Necessaries in an Island yielding little besides Sugar, is principally by their Fisheries and Importations.

The Sea gives them great plenty of flying Fish, Dolphins, Barricuda and King Fish, particularly the first; they bait with their own Specie, which thrown about, the Fish fly in such numbers to the Boats, that they take them up with Dip-nets, and sometimes the Dolphins with them; the Season goes off at the Autumnal Equinox. Their Importations by Ships from _England_, _Ireland_, _New-England_, _Pensylvania_, _Carolina_, or _New-York_, constantly supplying any Defect of Food or Necessaries, every Vessel bringing them something or other of this kind, which the Merchants keep in store and sell the Planters occasionally, who give their Sugars, Rum, and Molosses in return. The Price in what I was acquainted is, _viz._

Bought,
Rum at 1_s._ 2_d._ per Gallon.
Citron Water 40 0
Pickled Pepper 10 0
Preserved Ginger 5 0 _per lb._
Sugar, twenty Shillings a hundred; and before
our Improvements (says _Gee_) the _Portuguese_
sold for 7 and 8_l._ a hundred.
Cocoa, 3 or 4_l._
Aloes 4_d._ _per lb._

Sold,
Salt Beef and Pork, 40 Shillings for a Cask of 2 _Cwt._
Bisket, 17_s._ _per_ hundred
Candles, 6½ _per lb._ &c.
Exchange 30 _per Cent._ or more.

I have heard that the Custom-house Books had one year 35000 Hogsheads of Sugar entred, which at 10_l._ _per_ Hogshead, amounts to 350000_l._ Every Acre was supposed 10_s._ a year Profit to the national Stock of _England_, besides what the Planter got, and Mouths fed by it; but I must observe, the Crops of late years have very much failed, and put many of them under great Necessities. The Soil fertile in the Age past, seems now growing old, and past its teeming-time; they endeavour to mend this by a few Cattle kept for the sake of Manure; _few_, I say, because Land imploy’d this way, gives not 1/10 its Value. Wherefore when a thoughtless Man has joined to unlucky Events and Seasons an inadvertent way of living, he falls a Prey to the more astronomical Heads of Factors, who supply him with Food and Necessaries. The Hardships of many Planters at this time, through such Inclemencies, cannot be better laid open to the Reader, than in transcribing part of a Sermon, that I am informed was preached by Command of his Excellency the Governor, _May_ 1734.

A Charity SERMON at _Bridgetown_, for the two Parishes, _St.
Philip_, and _Christ-Church_.

“Here I should have left off, but I am _commanded_ by his Excellency the Governor, to exhort you to that Charity, the Necessity of which has been laid before ye.

“Remember therefore, that one of the ways observed of seeking God is, by obeying the Dictates of his Holy Spirit, that Humanity and Charity undepraved Nature feels towards all that are poor and distressed.

“What an excellent Grace of Christianity this is, _St. Paul_ from the Spirit of God teacheth, (1 _Cor._ xiii.) saying, that when the Gift of Tongues, of Prophecies, of Miracles shall cease, _a greater_, even that of Charity, shall never cease in the Church militant, never in the Church triumphant; nor can there be any greater Inducements to provoke us to Charity, than _first_, it covers a Multitude of Sins, and _next_, bringeth God himself (as he is pleased to esteem it) in debt to us; _for he who giveth to the Poor lendeth to the Lord, and look, what he layeth out shall be paid him again_; paid in Blessings here, and hereafter eternal Life, if no mortal Sin continue in the Giver, to hinder these blessed Effects.—I need say no more to ye who read the Bible, how dear to God those Christians are, who according to their Ability are liberal to poor Persons and Families; so that what remains for me to say, is to expatiate a little upon the miserable State of the Poor of these two Parishes, and leave the whole to your pious Consideration.

“In one of these, _St. Philip_’s, mine Eyes beheld all the Signs of an approaching Famine; the Face of the Earth appeared as it were a dry Crust, burnt up and gaping for its watry Nutriment; hardly any thing green appeared, and I am told, the Face of the Country is much the same in _Christ-Church_ Parish. Now how miserable must it be with the single Poor, and with Families! I assure you, several are come into ours, and others are gone farther Leeward to seek for Work and Food. You who are tender Parents, consider how terrible it must be for Families with nothing in their House, nothing growing on their Land, not a grain of any thing to support themselves and dear helpless Children: No Money, and no Credit, no Relief from without, and no Bread, nor Water either, hardly within or without. I have heard of poor Men going about for Work, to sustain their own Bodies, forced to leave Wife and Children at home to starve; sure your Hearts must relent, and every one of you give according as you are able, with a free Mind, and willing Heart. But here some may object, Why should I give to those two Parishes, when our own Poor may be in as great Want? I answer, some may be so; but the Calamity (blessed be God) is not so general here; it is not so bad with us in that one necessary Article of Water. Thirst is terrible, let us then pity our poor Brethren, their Wives and Children, who go so far for Water that they have not due time to get their Bread, were there Work for them to earn it by.

“I believe, you know we have here poor Families in great want, and I could wish our Vestry would meet, particularly to consider it; but in the mean time, let us not forget the poorer People of these two Parishes, as now perishing for want of Food; yea, his L——p and the Council’s Belief is, (you hear) that some have already died for want of Bread.

“What Christian Man or Woman then in Affluence and Plenty, can have an Heart so hard as not to bestow liberally on so great, so sad, so calamitous a Necessity and Misery? and what poorer Christian, who has somewhat, tho’ little above his daily Wants, but will fling his Mite to stop so dread an Evil?

“What Christian Woman, who has young and helpless Children of her own, and Bread to give them, but whose Bowels must yearn and Heart ake to hear, that in these two Parishes are many Infants crying at the empty Breasts of their Mothers, and their Mothers weeping and languishing at the same time for Bread to sustain themselves.

“What compassionate Fathers or Brothers but must grieve to understand, that grown Children too young to work, are now starving in these Parishes, and their Parents and Brothers nothing to relieve them.

“What good Children but must bleed at heart to see their Parents starving? yet such is the Fate of some in these Parishes.

“Christians consider, that one way of keeping Famine from us of this Parish, is to bestow our Charity in a Proportion to their Wants, and our Ability: That is the likeliest Method to move God to give us fruitful Seasons, to renew our Springs, and bring a cheerful Green over the Face of our Plants and Seeds.

“_May the blessed Spirit_, &c.”

* * * * *

The Consequence of this Distress now among the _Barbadians_, is shifting their old Habitations; several impelled by Necessity, and Wants, (stronger Motives than Religion;) are stealing away to mend it where they can.

The Sufferings of these Islanders, I think, will carry some Similitude to larger Countries; where the remarkable Decay, or Loss of one single Branch of Trade, it’s observed, will sensibly affect Multitudes, not only those immediately concerned in the retailing, who must change Trades, infringing on others, or seek other Countries, but also those not concerned; because as an extraordinary Trade stamps an extraordinary Value on Land, and that on Provisions, when the one fails, or changes hands, as it has and will do, (_Venice_, the _Hans Towns_, _Antwerp_, _Holland_, and which by the way, shews all Countries bordering on the Sea, within 50°° of Latitude, equally advantageous for Trade) the other ought to give way for the lowering of Provisions, and Charge of Subsistence to the Poor, (some ways of it being supposed now to be cut off or curtailed:) and if Landlords do it slowly, the Law should oblige; because, as publick Virtue is no private Man’s Profession, he will take his Lands into his own hands, tho’ with Loss, rather than submit to the Reduction of his Rents; and because he can afford it, will hoard, and suffer Grain to decay and spoil, before he will fall the Price.

In our Plantations, the inferior sort of Merchants are not unlike Sharpers in Gaming; they by a better Skill, know how to prey on the Wants, the Weakness, and Passions of their Customers (the Planters and Artificers) chaining them down by degrees to their Service; many of the Inconsiderate being ruined without knowing it, till the very Day they want Victuals.

_SUGAR-CANES._

In the Wars between _Holland_ and _Portugal_ in _Brasil_, a _Dutch-Man_ arrived here from thence, who taught them the way of Planting and making Sugars. They are set out between _August_ and _December_, six Inches deep, and do not come to Maturity until one year and a quarter: when ripe, which is known by their Colour, they cut them up with a Bill, and send them to the Wind-mills, which presses out the Juice so clean, the Canes by being an hour or two in the Sun, become fit for Fuel.

The Liquor must not remain in the Cistern above a day, for fear of souring; it is therefore by a Gutter conveyed to the Copper or Boyler, and in the boiling, the Filth scummed off; thence it’s conveyed into the second and third, and in the last, called the _Tack_, is boiled to a Consistency, and turned into a Grain by throwing in of _Temper_, which is only the Infusion of Lime and Water made strong according to the Goodness of the Cane. Nine Pounds of Juice makes one of Muscovado, and one of Molossus.

From hence it is carried to the cooling Cistern, till fit to put in Pots, which have Holes at Bottom to drain off the Molossus.

Of these Molossus again, they sometimes make another worse Sugar, called _Paneels_. Of the Scum, coarse Molossus, Washings of the Boilers and Pots, fermented together, is made _Rum_.

To refine Sugar, is to boil it over again, and clarify with the same Lime-Water and Eggs, reckoned better than the clayed Sugars of this Region, made by putting a clayey Earth mixed with Water to the thickness of a Batter upon them, and repeated three or four times according to the degree of Whiteness design’d; both ways carry the Treacle and Molossus downwards, but the former most esteemed, as mixing less, and purging to better purpose. Lime refines from Impurities, and imparts a softer Taste, experienced in throwing it into Wells of hard Water; the best refin’d in Loaves comes back to the Sugar-Colonies from _England_, sell at 50 or 100 _per Cent._ Advance, and are of common Use; they must be kept dry, a hot and moist Air dissolving them.

From Molossus, Distillers make a clean Brandy, and it gives a pretty tasted Spirit to Malt Liquors, boiled and worked in the Tun.

Besides Rum and Sugars, they have Quantities of Ginger, Aloes, Tamarinds, Citron, Cassia, Coloquintida, Cassava, Limes, Oranges, Guavas, Pine-Apples, Mastick, Cedar, Cotton and Palmeto Trees, prickled Pear; but our Apples and Pears, nor any of our Shrub-Fruits, Goose-berry or Currant, will thrive. Of the Potato they make a brisk Small-beer, called _Mobby_.

About two or three years ago, the low Price of Sugars, that had reduced and beggar’d the Planters, brought on a Complaint, and Bill in Parliament in their favour. They urged, according to the best of my Remembrance, that the northern Colonies, especially _New-England_, being suffered to trade with the _French_ Islands, was in a great part the Occasion of this, and a Loss to the Nation; for they took off all the _French_ Molossus, which before they had no use for, but sold it our Islands at very low Prices.

The _French_ therefore were helped by this Sale, to afford their Sugars cheaper, and still more enabled by _a nearer Way of Living; by the Customs being taken off, allowing them to go thence to any Market, and other Encouragements_ to undersell, and take the foreign Markets from _us_, who were clogged with all those Inconveniencies.