Chapter III (1)

THE VOYAGE OF THE SHIP _HANNIBAL_ OF
LONDON, IN 1693

It was my misfortune, as well as many others, this last war with France, in my voyage home from Venice and Zant, in the _William_ of two hundred tons and twenty guns, to fall into the clutches of three great French men of war of seventy guns each, in the soundings, about sixty leagues S.W. from Cape Clear in Ireland. There being so great an inequality in our strength, and no hopes of escaping, I thought it prudence to submit without any resistance, and not have my men killed and wounded to no purpose; for they had five hundred men each, and I but thirty in all; therefore I was forced to let might overcome right, and upon summons by a shot athwart our fore foot, from the _Crown_, of seventy brass guns, which came first up with us, to strike our ensign and become their prize.[15]

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Footnote 15:

This early narrative of a slaving voyage has been abstracted from
Capt. Thomas Phillips’ “Journal,” printed in Churchill’s _Collection
of Voyages_, vol. VI, London, 1746.

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After my return to England, I was for some time destitute of imployment, until Sir Jeffrey Jeffreys, Knt., out of his extraordinary generosity and good will to me, understanding that the ship _Hannibal_ of four hundred and fifty tons, and thirty-six guns, was to be sold, gave me orders to buy her. Having done this he was pleased to deposit the money for her presently out of his own pocket; and after, by his interest, to bring in his worthy brother, John Jeffreys, Esq.; Sam. Stanyer, Esq.; then sub-governor of the African company, and some other eminent merchants, to be part-owners with me, and then to recommend me and the ship to the Royal African Company of England; from whom, upon his account I found acceptance. Being entered into their service, on a trading voyage to Guinea, for elephant’s teeth, gold, and negro slaves; and having the needful cargoes on board wherewith to purchase them, as well as supplies of merchandise, stores, &c. for the company’s castles and factories; my business being compleated at London, I took boat for Gravesend the fifth of September in the year 1693, and got on board about eleven at night, with money to pay my men their river-pay, and one month’s pay advance-money, as per agreement.

Sunday the 10th in the morning, we broke ground from Gravesend, and drove with the ebb to the upper end of the Hope, where we chop’d to an anchor, and in the evening I went up to Gravesend.

Tuesday the 12th. This morning about three o’clock we got under sail, with a brave gale at W. At nine we were past the Nore, where we drove till one in the evening, waiting for water, at which time we bore away for the red sand, and about four got through the narrow, and at six anchored off the North Foreland, in nine fathom water.

Wednesday the 13th. At four this morning we got up our anchors, with the wind at S.W. and after several tacks, about eleven we came to an anchor in the Downs, in eight fathom water. We were detained in the Downs with every blustering weather and contrary winds until the twenty-fifth of October when the wind veering to the north, we got up our anchors, and about seven in the evening were under sail. At noon the next day we saw the isle of Wight, bearing north-west. We got our anchors up, and our ship clear for the sea, and removed two of our guns that were open in the waist into the after-ports in the great cabin.

PROSPECT OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE, LONDON, IN 1714, WITH SHIPPING OF THE
PERIOD
From an engraving by John Harris, in the Macpherson Collection
]

Friday the 27th. From yesterday noon till twelve this day we have had a brave topsail gale from north to north-east, steering away west. We run from four in the evening yesterday, 112′ west, by the best computation I could make, for our log-line breaking in the night, we lost our log and were forced to make guess-work. We saw many ships on all sides, but spoke with none, except one Portuguese of two-hundred tons, bound from Oporto to London, laden with wine, for some quantities of which commodity we had a great desire to traffick with him; but it blowing so hard, and night being come on, hinder’d our design, so that we bid him farewell, and left him to proceed on his voyage, as we did on ours. Unbent our cables, and clap’d on house-boards, clear’d our ship, and appointed by men their quarters in case of engaging an enemy, having seventy men belonging to the ship, and thirty-three of the African company’s passengers, for their castles in Guiney, so that we made in all, men and boys, a hundred and three.

Wednesday the first. At three this morning, the mate that had the watch came to acquaint me that they discover’d four strange ships with lights to windward of us. When I came upon deck I perceiv’d one with a light standing as we did, upon which we got our half ports off,—chests and hammocks up, and order’d every man to their several quarters, to get them clear for an engagement. About eleven, being clear day, we had all things in order, and ready for a fight, at which time I plainly saw four tall ships with all sails set standing directly with us. I am sure they were men of war of sixty and seventy guns each, as near as I could discover through my glass, but of what nation I could not tell, tho’ we had great reason to believe them French, our frigats seldom or never cruising so far to the S. and W. They stood towards us with all sails set in a line, upon which I made a signal, by hoisting and lowering my ensign four times, to give notice to Capt. Shurley of our new companions, and crowded with all sails to speak with him, he being about a mile distant upon my lee bow, and the only one of our fleet then in company, we having lost the rest last night and the night before. When I came up with him it blew so hard that we could not hear each other, tho’ we had good speaking-trumpets, therefore we were forced to endeavour to understand one another by signs, by which I perceived that he was of my opinion, that since they were so many, not to stand the brunt with them, two to one being odds at football, we being deep loaden merchant ships, and they frigats, built and fitted only for fight, but rather to go away large, and endeavour, by often varying our course, to lose them, it blowing very hard at S. and being thick dirty weather, which was likely to continue and increase, which I was not sorry for, since I do verily believe it saved us a French voyage; therefore we hal’d up our mainsails, clapt the helm aweather, and bore away under foresail and maintopsail, with two reefs in, upon the cap, W.N.W. and N.W. till nine, handed maintopsail, and went away N.W. till ten, having lost sight of the ships that pursued us e’er since we went large. At eleven, it blowing a hard storm, having very thick weather and grown sea, lest we should lose each other, Capt. Shurley brought to under a mizen; my foresail being up I went to do the like, but in haling out our mizen the strap of the sheet-block broke, so that e’er we could brail him up he was by the violence of the gale split to pieces, which occasion’d us to lower the yard down and unbend him, upon which the ship labouring much for want of sail, found it convenient to set the mainsail, and having got the tack aboard, e’er we could gather the sheet aft we split the mainsail, and were forced to hale down the yard and furl him, and bear away before the wind N. and N. by W. with only the bunt of our foresail loose. In furling our mainsail one of our seamen, John Southern, being careless of himself, fell off the yard-arm and was drown’d, which I was extremely sorry for, but it was beyond human power to save him, it blowing a mere fret of wind, and a very great sea, and having no sails to command the ship.

Tuesday the 2d. From twelve yesterday until two in the evening, we went away N. with our bare poles, running four miles an hour; at which time, having brought to a new mizen and reef’d him, we hoisted the yard and set him, and brought her to under a mizen, then unbent our mainsail that was split, and with much pains and trouble, we bent another; and having reef’d him we furl’d him; About four we furl’d our fore-sail snug, and hoisted the mizen stay-sail, to keep the ship to, and her head upon the sea, she labouring most dreadfully. At twelve last night the violence of the storm being abated, we set the main-sail, and lay under it and mizen till daylight; when having righted up the ship a little, to my great trouble and surprise, we found that our fore-mast was sprung about three feet above the partners in the forecastle; the crack being very large, and opening above an inch upon every rent of the ship, which, to see, made my heart ake; we found it likewise upon searching, to be almost rotten to the heart in that place; whereupon I sent for my officers, to consult what was most proper to be done upon this unexpected accident, and how best to secure him; but finding some of them begin to urge that there was no proceeding on so long a voyage with such a mast, and that it was convenient to bear up for Plymouth, while we were so near it, to furnish ourselves with another, I thought it convenient to quash this motion in the bud, and declar’d I was resolv’d to proceed on my voyage, though I should be forced to go with a jury-mast, rather than return again to England; and forthwith order’d my carpenters to go to work to secure him, by paying four new capston bars of good oak, and nine feet long each, round him, where he was sprung, and spike them very well, and afterwards clapt four good wooldings upon him, which I was in hopes would sufficiently secure him, we every day approaching nearer a fair weather country; and when our carpenters had done what I had order’d them, it seem’d very firm, and did not complain all the voyage after. In crowding yesterday morning with maintop-sail to speak with Capt. Shurley, upon sight of the four strange ships, we wrench’d the head of our main-mast; and this morning set some men to woold the hull of the maintop-mast, to the head of the main-mast, to keep him fast, else the cap would slue much where the head of the mast was wrung.

Saturday the 18th. This morning we found out that one of the Royal African Company’s soldiers, for their castles in Guiney, was a woman, who had enter’d herself into their service under the name of John Brown, without the least suspicion, and had been three months on board without any mistrust, lying always among the other passengers, and being as handy and ready to do any work as any of them; and I believe she had continued undiscover’d till our arrival in Africa, had not she fallen very sick, which occasion’d our surgeon to visit her, and order’d her a glister, which when his mate went to administer, he was surpriz’d at what he discovered, which occasion’d him to make a farther inquiry, which, as well as her confession, manifesting the truth of her sex, he came to acquaint me of it, whereupon, in charity, as well as in respect to her sex, I order’d her a private lodging apart from the men, and gave the taylor some ordinary stuffs to make her woman’s cloaths; in recompence for which she prov’d very useful in washing my linen, and doing what else she could, till we deliver’d her with the rest at Cape Coast castle. She was about twenty years old, and a likely black girl.

Wednesday the 22d. About four o’clock in the morning it being day-light, Pico Tenerif bore due east of us, at which time being near Oratava road, we discern’d two sail between us and the shore, one of which we perceived to be a ship, and the other seem’d a barca longa; in a short time we saw the ship standing off to us, with all sails set, whereupon we tack’d off to the N. to have time to put our ship in a posture of defence, in case she prov’d an enemy, and with all expedition got our hatch ports off, our chests and hamocks up, our close quarters up, guns and small arms all ready, and about twelve we were every way clear and ready for an engagement, at which time we furl’d our main-sail, and handed all our small sails, flung our arms, clapp’d on our stoppers, our puddings, and plattings under our parrels, and being but little wind hal’d up our fore-sail, and lay by for the ship that was so earnest to speak with us.

Thursday the 23d. From noon yesterday we had but faint small breezes of wind until three in the evening, at which time the ship that stood after us was got within random gun-shot of us, appearing a fine long snug frigate; so that now we no longer doubted but she was an enemy, therefore letting fly my colours, we fir’d a shot athwart his fore foot; upon which he shew’d an English ensign; but for all his cheat we knew what he was, and were in all kinds ready to give him his welcome, we jogging easily under our fighting sails till four, at which time, being within carbine shot of us, he run out his lower tier of guns (which I did not expect, nor was well pleased to see) nine of each side, and struck his false colours, and hoisted the French white sheet. I perceiv’d he was resolv’d to pluck a crow with me; therefore, after drinking a dram, and encouraging all, order’d all my men to their guns, to behave themselves courageously, and expected his broad-side, which when within pistol-shot, he gave us, and his volley of small shot. We return’d his civility very heartily with ours; after which he shot a-head of us, and brought to, and fell along our larboard side, and gave us his other broad-side, as we did him; then each of us loaded and fired as fast as we could, until ten o’clock at night, when his foretop mast came by the board; then he fell astern of us, and made the best of his way to lee-ward, with his boat towing a-head, and took his leave of us. We gave him a levet with our trumpets, and what guns we had loaded, to bid him farewell, being heartily glad to be rid of such a troublesome guest. I was extremely glad that by God’s assistance we defended the ship, though she was most miserably shatter’d and torn in her mast and rigging, having had eleven shot in our main mast, three quite through him, and several lodg’d in him and gaul’d him standing three or four inches deep; eight shot in our fore-mast, two quite through; our main-top shot to pieces; our main-topmast splinter’d half away; our mizen yard shot in two pieces; our sprit-sail, top-mast jack, and jack staff, shot away; our ancient staff shot by the board, so that had no colours flying most part of the ingagement but the king’s pendant, which, by authority of my letter of mart, I fought under; we had several shot through our yards, with much more too long to insert. As to the rigging, I know not how to begin or end with it, it was so tore by long bars of iron they fired; our main shrouds we were forced to knot in fourteen places, and had but one shroud standing of the larboard side when Monsieur tow’d off. We knotted our fore shrouds, in nine places; our main-top chain and main tie were shot to pieces, so that the yard hung wholly by the parrel and pudding: our stay, sheets and tacks were shot in several places; and of the running rigging few or none escaped their small shot, which flew very thick; we had not above thirty shot placed in our hull, four of which were under water; he fired very high for the most part, at our mast, yards and rigging, to bring our mast by the board, and had we had a top-sail gale, they must have all gone away; but it was our good fortune to have smooth water (a thing not common in that place), and little wind, until we had opportunity, by stoppers, preventers, knotting and splicing, to secure them indifferently. We fired low all into his hull, and loaded our low guns (which were all demiculverin) constantly with both double and round shot, and our quarter deck guns with round shot, and tin cases full of musket bullets, so that we must certainly have killed him a great many men; our three boats and booms were shot thro’ in many places; and we had a suit of sails quite spoil’d, some being shot thro’ like strainers. We had five men kill’d outright, and about thirty-two wounded; among the last was my brother, my gunner, carpenter, and boatswain; the carpenter had his arm shot off, and three others their legs; five or six of my best men were dreadfully blown up by their carelessness in laying the lighted matches among some cartridges of powder; our harper had his scull fractur’d by a small shot; the rest are but slight small shot and splinter wounds, and bruises,—and hope will do all well; our surgeon, Mr. William Gordon, being a diligent man, and an excellent artist in his profession. The fight lasted six hours, from four till ten o’clock, being all that while within pistol shot, little wind, and small water, and firing as fast as both sides could load our guns. We often gave them huzza’s during the engagement, and they would answer with _Vive le roys_; but when he towed away under our stern his note was changed, for I never heard such dreadful screeching and howling as was on board of him, so that he must needs have a great many men wounded. I judged him to be about 48 guns, and a man of war. After he left us we steered W. by S. with a small gale at N.E. and spent all the night in fixing our rigging as well as we could, to be in some posture to receive him, if he should incline to have another bout with us in the morning; but our men being tired all day, and the best of them kill’d or wounded, we could do but little, tho’ they had all the encouragement that I could give them and as much punch as they would drink. This morning, when it was light, we saw the enemy about three leagues distance, standing to the northward from us, having, I presume, had his belly-full the night before, and which, without fallacy, I was very glad of, not desiring to have any more to do with such a quarrelsome fellow.

Friday the 24th. These twenty-four hours we have spent in knotting our shrouds, and fixing our other rigging as well as we could; knotted our main shrouds in fourteen places, and the foreshrouds in nine, and after set them up very tort, to secure our poor shattered mast; we were forced to keep our chain-pump and both hand-pumps constantly going, to keep the ship free, she making a great deal of water, through the four shot holes rec’d under water, which we could not come at to stop effectually by reason of the sea. This day we lived on bread and cheese and punch, not being able to dress any meat, by reason our hearth and furnaces were shot thro’, which our armourer was about mending. We had a hogshead of brandy shot in our lazaretta, whose loss we much regretted. The poor ship looked miserably with her shot rigging dangling about, and as full of splinters as a carpenter’s yard full of chips.

Sunday the 26th. Yesterday in the evening we set up our shrouds tort again, the heat of the weather and the drawing of the knots having much slackened them; our shot mizen-yard being splic’d and fish’d, we bent a new mizen to him, and got him up and set him; we unbent our foresail (which had thirty large shot-holes thro’ him, some half-yard wide, done with the long bars of iron they fired, and innumerable musket-shot holes) and brought to another; we woolded three large crows to the foremast, to succour a great gaul about eight inches deep which he had received in the engagement, about ten foot above the forecastle; set our carpenters to work about mending the shot-holes in our bolts.

Monday the 27th. Yesterday’s evening our carpenters spent in mending the bottom of our yaul, so that now we have one boat that will swim, ready to be hoisted out upon any sudden accident of a man’s falling overboard, or the like. We kept our pumps constantly plying, to free the ship, in which the Royal African Company’s soldiers did us good service in the day-time. This morning, as soon as it was clear light, we saw a ship upon our weather bow, bearing of us S. by W. distance about a league, standing as we did; immediately we called up all hands to put the ship in a fighting posture, and in truth our men were very dextrous at it, so that we were clear for a fight in less than an hour’s time (being improved by the last engagement). In about half an hour after we were every where ready, we perceived her to hale close upon a wind, crowding with all the sail she could towards the Barbary coast. She seemed to us a good ship, and I do believe it might be Capt. Daniell in the _Mediteranean_, bound to Angola. When we saw him shun us we kept on our own course being not very desirous to force a quarrel, having so lately been well bang’d, tho’ all our men that were unwounded were very resolute to give him a rough salute, had he had any thing to say to us; he keeping still close hal’d, about twelve o’clock was out of sight. We then put our half ports on again, unflung our yards, and got off our close quarters, and set our carpenters about mending the rest of our boats. This false alarm hinder’d the paying of our tropick bottles. This day our bag-piper’s leg was cut off a little below the knee.

Saturday the 2d. From noon yesterday until six in the evening we steered along the island of St. Jago, at which time took in our small, and hal’d up our low sails, and stood to the E. off, under our topsails only, Santa Mayo then bearing E.N.E. distance five leagues. At ten we braced our fore-topsail to the mast, and lay by for daylight to get into the harbour of Praya, to rift our ship; at six in the morning made sail and stood in for the port, and about ten we got in. We rid somewhat more than a cable’s length from each shore, and about a mile from the bottom of the bay, which is fine and sandy, with a large cocoanut orchard near the water side.

Sunday the 3d. Yesterday we unbent the main-sail; and having lowered the yard, got it fore and aft, in order to splice a piece ten foot long to the starboard yard-arm, where it was broke. About three o’clock this morning got our guns over, and gave the ship a heel to port, in order to stop our leaks on the starboard side, where we received three shots under water afore the chestree. Our carpenters spent till two in the evening in stopping them, our men in the mean time giving the ship a scrub as low as they could; then we heeled the ship the other way, and found a very large shot-hole in the larboard-bow, about a foot under water. Our carpenters spent the rest of the day in stopping that, and righted the ship before night. About nine this morning I went with some of my officers to pay my respects to the governor at St. Jago town, having our trumpets in the pinnace’s head.

After we had rowed about seven miles, we came about a point into the bay near the town. We run our boat ashore right against the gate; where being landed, and seeing only a few negroes and children, our trumpets sounded a levet, which soon brought an officer down to us, who conducted us to the governor’s palace at the upper part of the town; where we saw no body but negro women, who talked to us many smutty English words, making lascivious undecent gestures with their bodies, which were all naked, excepting a little clout about their waste, hanging down to the middle of the thigh.

We were informed that the governor was at church; but our trumpets had alarmed him so, that we had not waited long ere he appeared, advancing towards us at the head of the congregation. There were two young captains and the priest accompanied him, his horse being led after him in pretty good equipage. When he was come where we were, we saluted him with our hats, which he and his company returned very courteously. Then he desir’d us to walk in, and led us thro’ a court into a large hut, with an iron balcony facing the sea, towards which it had a fine prospect. After we were seated I acquainted him we were come to pay our respects to him, and gave him an account of our voyage, and what induced us to put into his port, desiring he would permit us to furnish ourselves with what fresh water and provisions we had occasion for. He replied, That since he was perswaded we were upon an honest account, we might furnish ourselves with what e’er the island afforded; which favour I thankfully acknowledged. I fancied him all this time a little uneasy by reason he saw so many of my officers and passengers with me, and that he had an inclination to give me some treat, but that he was afraid they would devour him; therefore calling one of them to me, I whispered him to go with the rest and take a walk for an hour; which they soon did, making their excuse to the governor, that they had a desire to see the town, which he was not backward to grant them, none remaining with me but my brother.

Soon after they were gone, we had a napkin laid, and a loaf of good white bread; then he went into the next room and brought out a box of marmalad, and a square case bottle half full of Madeira wine in which he drank to me; but had it not been out of perfect civility, I had rather have pledged him in water; for it was so thick, foul and hot, that it had like to have made me commit an indecency in his excellency’s presence; but having laid a foundation of good punch in the morning aboard, it fortified my stomach so as that I had power to contain myself. Afterwards I gave him an invitation to come and dine aboard our ship, where he should find a cordial welcome, as well as all due respect. He received the invitation kindly, but assured me, that he had not been on board any ship since he had been governor there, and that if he were inclined to go, the inhabitants would lose their lives ere they would permit him, lest any harm should befal him, or tricks be put upon him, as there have been on some governors of these islands, by pirates and privateers, who when they have got them aboard, have carried them away if they did not forthwith give orders to bring them such a quantity of provisions as they demanded, for which they would pretend to give a bill of exchange payable at London, but drawn upon John-a-Nokes, or the pump at Algate, as Avery’s bill was to the governor of St. Thomas’s isle.

Monday the 4th. This day our carpenters spliced a piece to the main-yard, and clap’d two good iron hoops and two wooldings up it. We unbent our shot topsails, and brought others to the yards; fitted our shatter’d main-stay, sent the longboat for water, of which she filled sixteen punchions. We had fine weather, and a curious easy gale at N.E. In the morning I went ashore at the cod of the bay, which I found covered with ragged merchants; some with oranges, lemons, cocoa-nuts, pine apples, bananas, &c. Here one with a couple of small hens in his hand, there another with a little monkey upon his knee; a little farther, one with a goat betwixt his legs, another near him with a hog tied to his arm, and our seamen so busy trafficking with them for old ragged shirts, drawers, or any other moveables (for nothing came amiss) that the trade was very brisk and diverting. After we had pleased ourselves some time with this rag market, we walked up the hill to deliver the cheese I had promised the governor, which I intrusted with the before-named old officer, presenting himself with another. Here I met with a gentleman of the island who was come on purpose to offer to supply me with what provisions I wanted, and to take what money I could muster, and the rest in goods for it. I gave him orders for fifteen goats, ten sheep, four hogs, sixty hens, five hundred oranges, and five hundred lemons, which he promised should be ready at the seaside in the morning. The negroes here go naked, except a cloth about their middles, and a roll of linen the women wear about their heads. The cloaths they wear are of cotton, and chequered or striped with blue. I have been told they make great quantities of these cloaths to sell, being much esteemed, and a very good commodity upon the Gold Coast in Guiney; but for my part I saw none but what the women wore; neither did any body mention or offer any such to me for sale.

Tuesday the fifth. This morning, according to promise, I found the provision we had bespoke at the water-side, which we bought very reasonably, and paid for them three pounds in Spanish money which I had picked up among my officers, and the rest in muskets, coral, and painted linen. I went and took leave of the old officer, intending to go no more ashore, and about noon returned aboard, where our men were busy setting our shrouds well up fore and aft. Our carpenters had sawed a spare maintopmast we had into two halves, with which this morning they fished the foremast, which was very crazy. After having fayed and spiked the fishes, they clap’d four good wooldings upon them. We got up our low yards, and made all clear to sail next morning. Last night Thomas Cronow, an honest stout Welshman, one of our sailors, died of his wounds received in the late engagement, one of his legs being carried off about the ancle, and half his other foot by the same shot. He was rowed some distance from the ship and his body committed to the deep.

Wednesday the 6th. This morning at four we got our stream anchor and hauser aboard, then having loosed and hoisted our topsails, hove up our small bower, and stood out to sea, with the wind at N.E., a fine fresh gale.

Thursday the 7th. Yesterday in the evening we cleaned all fore and aft between decks; and having covered the gratings close with tarpaulins, we burnt three buckets of tar to keep the ship wholesome and prevent infection and distempers. We hoisted in our pinnace and yaul; and having clap’d the boat rope and a hauser upon the longboat, towed her astern. We unbent our cables, got up our anchors, clap’d on house-boards, and took up one reef in our topsails.

Saturday the 23rd. From noon yesterday we steer’d along shore for Cape Mounseradoe, with a small gale of wind. At daylight, we saw the cape, and soon after descried three vessels riding at anchor under it; one of which seem’d a large ship. We not knowing what they might be, made our ship clear, and order’d all things ready for a battle, when we perceived a boat, rowing off towards us, who having discover’d what we were, came aboard us, being the pinnace of the _East India Merchant_, Captain Shurley, my consort, who had sent her to intreat me to put in there to his assistance, he having, off the cape, had his fore-mast and fore-yard split to pieces, with a thunder-bolt, and his fore-topgallant-sail set on fire by the precedent flash of lightning. I intended to wood and water at Junco, about twelve leagues more to the E. where is a good river, and plenty of wood; but understanding this disaster that had befallen Captain Shurley, I alter’d my resolution, and made all the way I could to get into Mounseradoe road, which, with the sea breeze, I did, and about four in the evening let go my anchor in eight fathom water. We found the other two vessels to be one Gubbins, an interloper, come from Barbadoes, chiefly laden with rum, to trade for gold and slaves, of which I bought about 500 gallons of him cheap, and sold it to good advantage. The other vessel was the _Stanier_ sloop, with M. Colker on board her, who was agent of Cherborough, and came thence to trade along the coast for teeth, &c.

The people here are civil and courteous, but great beggars, the king and cappashires continually haunting us for dashes (which is their word for presents). Here is store of good rice, and cheap, which they brought us in abundance; and for our better conveniency of trading with them, as well as to lodge our carpenters that lay ashore in the nights to cut wood, we erected two tents with old sails, upon the spit of sand at the mouth of the river. The chief commodity we traded for was rice, of which I bought about five tuns, paying mostly for it in booges or cawries, which are the goods they chiefly esteem, for a pint of which we could buy 30 lb. of rice. The other goods they approved of were iron bars and red Welsh plains; but they had nothing considerable to trade with us for them. We bought some fowls of them which they call “Cocadecoes,” being not bigger than our English chickens, and eat dry. We also purchas’d some limes, wild oranges, pine apples, and two or three small goats. They had a few small elephants teeth, but not worth our regard.

The 28th came in here Capt. John Soans, in the _Jeffry_; and having supply’d himself with some wood, water, and rice, set sail again for the Bight, on Thursday the 3d of Jan. having left with me a packet of letters directed for Sir Jeffrey Jeffreys, to be forwarded to Europe, with the first conveniency. Agent Colker, set sail for Sherberow in the 5th, and Gubbins, in the Barbadoes interloper, the same morning for the Gold Coast, by whom I sent letters to the African Company’s three chief merchants at Cabo Corse Castle, signifying my agreement with the company to slave upon the Gold Coast, and bespeaking their diligence in procuring what numbers they could for me against my arrival there, with what else was needful. I was forced to stay here ten days after I had compleated my business, for Capt. Shurley to refit his ship, which at length being done, we both set sail with the morning breeze, on the 9th of Jan. 1693/4 for the coast. The negroes of this place, express’d a great affection for the English, and as much hatred to the French; two of them took Capt. Shurley’s and my name, assuring us their next sons should be called so.

Saturday the 13th. Yesterday till about four in the evening, being off the river of Sestos, we came to an anchor in nine fathom water. This morning I went ashore in my pinnace with some goods to trade, and Capt. Shurley sent his with his purser in her, being so ill that he could not go himself.

About eight miles up the river is the town where king Peter their monarch lives; but I could not spare time to go and visit him, and in truth had no great inclination to venture so far in a boat, having been informed that the negroes here are very treacherous and bloody, as some of our European traders have found to their cost. The goods in demand here are brass kettles, pewter basons of several sizes, boogas or cowries, freezes, Welsh plains, red and blue, knives, &c., some of each of which we carried ashore; but they had nothing to traffick with us for them, except a few little calves teeth (for so they call the young elephants) which were not worth our notice, and which they held very dear. We bought some hens, limes, and oranges; were offer’d some rice, but much dearer than we bought at Mounseradoe, where we had supply’d ourselves.

NEGRO SLAVES FROM LOANGO, AFRICA
From an engraving in Stedman’s _Narrative of an Expedition to
Surinam_, London, 1796
]

Sunday the 14th. Finding no trade to encourage our stay at Sestos, we got up our stream-anchor this morning, and set sail with a small gale at W.

Monday the 15th. From noon yesterday we steer’d along shore till two in the evening, at which time came several canoos aboard us from Sanguin river, where the Grain or Malagetta coast begins. They brought us pepper, or, as they call it, Malagetta, which is much like our Indian pepper and for ought I know, as good. It was brought in ozier baskets. I bought 1000 weight of it at one iron bar (value in England three shillings and six pence) and a dashy of a knife or two to the broker. The reason of our buying this pepper is to give it to our negroes in their messes to keep them from the flux and dry belly-ach, which they are very incident to.

Tuesday the 16th. At noon this day we were off of Wappo, whence came off to us more canoos, with Malagetta to sell, of which I bought three hundred weight for three two-pound pewter basons. We might have bought much more, but having enough for our purpose, we turn’d them ashore, and pursue’d our course.

Wednesday the 17th. Yesterday my poor brother grew very ill and delirious; and notwithstanding all the endeavours used by my own and Capt. Shurley’s doctor for his recovery, about three in the evening this day he took his leave of this troublesome world, and left me full of affliction for the loss of him. He had been sick of a malignant fever about eight days, and many of my men lay ill of the same distemper.

January the 18th. Having yesterday doubled Cape Palmas, about five in the evening we came to an anchor in nineteen fathom water, where we rode till six this morning. We got under sail, when the coffin being ready, the deceas’d was nailed up therein; and our pinnace being hoisted out, he was lower’d into her, and myself, my doctor and purser went in her to bury him, the colours of our own ship and _East-India Merchant_ being lowered half-mast down, our trumpets and drums sounding and beating, as is customary upon such melancholy occasions. We row’d the corpse about 1/4 of a mile from the ship to seaward; and the prayers of the church being read, I help’d to commit his body to the deep, which was the last office lay in my power to do for my dear brother. Then the _Hannibal_ fired sixteen guns at 1/2 minute distance of time, which was the number of years he had lived in this uncertain world; and the _East-India Merchant_ fired ten guns.

Sunday the 21st. At six we weigh’d anchor, and stood along to the east. About ten came two canoos aboard us from Caba-la-ho, and were follow’d by several others with stores of good teeth, which invited us to come to anchor; but ere the negroes in the canoos would come aboard, they required that the captain of the ship should come down the out side of the ship, and drop three drops of the sea water into his eye, as a pledge of friendship, and of safety for them to come aboard; which I very readily consented to and perform’d, in hopes of a good market for their large fair teeth, which I had a longing desire to purchase. Then they came aboard, but seeing so many men on deck, were mistrustful, and went into their canoos again. I was much concerned at their fearfulness, and with much persuasion prevailed on them to return, which they did, and having given each that came in a good coge of brandy, I shewed them some of my commodities, and they brought in some teeth. I was astonished when first they came near the ship, to hear no other speech come from them but “Qua, Qua, Qua, Qua,” like a parcel of ducks; from which I presume this teeth coast hath had the appellation of Quaquaa coast, it reaching from Cape Palmas to Bassam Picolo, where was the first gold I meet with. I have no where upon the coast met with the negroes so shy as here, which makes me fancy they have had tricks played them by such blades as Long Ben, alias Avery, who have seiz’d them and carried them away. The goods they most covet are pewter basons, the larger the better, iron bars, knives, and large screw’d pewter jugs, which they did much affect.

Saturday the 27th. At two in the evening yesterday we got up our anchors, and sailed along shore until six, when came a four-hand canoo aboard us from Bassam, assuring us of good trade of gold and slaves in the morning, if we would anchor, and that they would stay with us all night, which we permitted them, hoisting up their canoo in the tackles, and let go our anchors in fourteen fathom water. In the morning those aboard fell to trade, of whom I took thirty-six achies of gold in fatishes for pewter and iron bars.

Sunday the 28th. The negroes yesterday promised us a good trade this day if we stay’d. Accordingly this morning came aboard of me two canoos, of which I took sixteen ounces of gold in fatishes, for iron bars, pewter, and knives, viz. for one iron bar 1½ achy, for a dozen of knives, one achy, for a four-pound pewter bason, one achy, with several knives for dashes to those that traded briskly. Here the negroes are not so well skilled in trade as upon the Gold Coast, for we could put the bank-weights upon them; but to leeward, on the Gold Coast, they knew our Troy weights as well as ourselves, and have weights of their own, which they compare ours with. Like-wise at this place goods yield a better price than among our factories to leeward, by reason that here they can’t supply themselves at all times as they can there; therefore when they have an opportunity of ships passing by, they buy what they want, tho’ they give a better price for it; but they have but small quantities of gold to trade with.

Wednesday the 31st. Last night I was taken with a violent racking pain the right side of my head; and Capt. Shurley being very ill of a fever, sent for Mr. Gordon, my doctor, to have his advice. On Sunday the pain in my head increased, and I was taken with a dimness in my eyes, that I could not see ten yards off, and a dizziness in my head, that I could not stand nor walk without assistance.

Wednesday the 13th, in the morning we got under sail, and having doubled Cape Apollonia, in the evening we came to an anchor at Axem in eight fathom water, about two miles from the Dutch fort. Here we had but little trade, therefore after we got aboard we weigh’d, and stood along shore till night, when anchored in 18 fathom water, a-breast the Brandenburg fort, near Cape Tres Puntar.

The 20th in the morning Capt. Shurley and I went ashore to our castle at Succandy, where we found the factor, Mr. Johnson, in his bed raving mad, cursing and swearing most wretchedly at us, not in the least knowing Capt. Shurley, tho’ he had a long former acquaintance with him. I pity’d from my soul this poor man, who had plunged himself into this condition thro’ resentment of an affront put upon him by one Vanbukeline, the copeman or merchant of the Mine-castle, which, as we were informed by his second (who was a young lad, and had been a bluecoat-hospital boy) was as follows: One Taguba, a noted negro woman in Cape Corce town, being got with child by some of the soldiers of our castle there, was brought to bed of a Malatto girl, who growing to be about 11 years old, Mr. Johnson a factor, then at Cabo Corce, had a great fancy for her, and purposed to take her for his wife (as they take wives in Guiney); and about that time he being removed to Succandy, to be chief factor, to make sure of the girl, took her there to live with him till she was of age fit for matrimonial functions, using much tenderness and kindness to her, and taking great pleasure and satisfaction in her company for two or three years. When she was grown man’s meat, and a pretty girl, Vanbukeline by bribes and presents corrupted her mother Taguba, and prevailed with her to go to Succandy, and under pretence of making a visit to her daughter, to steal her away and bring her to him, he having ordered a swift canoo to lie ready under the Dutch fort at Succandy for that end. The mother accordingly came, and having been kindly treated by Mr. Johnson, who suspected nothing, went with her daughter to take a walk, and being come near the canoo that lay perdue, the canoo men took hold of her and put her per force into it, her mother following, and carried them both away to the Mine-castle, and delivered the young one to Vanbukeline, who soon cracked that nut which Mr. Johnson had been so long preparing for his own tooth. When I dined with the Dutch general at the Mine, I saw her there, being brought in to dance before us, very fine, bearing the title of madam Vanbukeline. This, and some other old differences between that Dutchman and he, did so disturb and vex him, that it threw him into distempers, and quite turned his brain. We were entertained by the young second as well as he could; and about three in the evening we went aboard. I have been informed since my being here, that the adjacent negroes, instigated by Vanbukeline and the Dutch general, had in the night surprized and seiz’d the fort, cut Johnson the factor to pieces, and plundered all the goods and merchandise.

On the 27th in the afternoon we came to an anchor in Cape Corce road in eight fathom water, and saluted our castle with 15 guns, which they returned. The merchandise and stores we brought for the castle, we sent in our longboat as near the shore as she dare go, and the canoos came and unlade her; which being flat bottom’d, play upon the sea until they perceive a smooth, then with violence run themselves ashore, take out the goods, and launch off again. We landed out of the _Hannibal_, at this place, thirty soldiers for the company, in as good health as we received them aboard in England; but in two months time that we lay here to complete our business, they were near half dead, and scarce enough of the survivors able to carry their fellows to the grave.

The commodities that are most in demand upon the Gold Coast, are blue and red perpetuanoes, pewter basons of several sizes, from one to four pound weight, old sheets, large Flemish knives, iron bars, cases of spirits, blue sayes, if well dyed, and coral, if large and of a good colour. These goods will seldom or never fail of a good market. I also carried there on account of the African company, muskets, niconees, tapseals, baysadoes, brass kettles, English carpets, Welsh plains, lead bars, firkins of tallow, powder, etc. None of which did answer expectation, being forced to bring back to England a great part of them; and those we sold were at a very low rate.

Near the great gate of the castle is a dungeon for the confinement of heinous malefactors, such as murderers, traitors, &c. till an opportunity presents to send them into England to be tried, and receive the rewards of their villainy. Which dark apartment one of my trumpeters whose name was William Lord, hansel’d; for being ashore drinking punch with some of the inferior officers of the castle, there happened a difference between him and one of the serjeants, who gave him a challenge to meet him with his sword near the redoubt, which the trumpeter promis’d, and was as good as his word; and both lugging out, it was the serjeant’s chance to be thrust into the belly; upon which he resign’d his sword, begg’d his life, and sunk down. Upon knowledge whereof at the castle, the trumpeter was seized and clap’d into the dungeon, which as soon as I understood, I desir’d the agents that their surgeon and mine might visit the serjeant, search his wound, and consult the consequence thereof, if mortal or not, which they freely agreed to; and in about an hour after the surgeons return’d, and made their report, both concurring that it was not mortal nor dangerous, the sword having only passed about five inches, glancing into the abdomen, without going thro’ the belly, or injuring any of the entrails. Whereupon the trumpeter was releas’d; who, after thanks given the agents, immediately repair’d aboard the ship, as his best asylum, where he was out of the reach of their power.

But though he was so lucky this time, yet I suspect a halter will be his fate; for, tho’ a stout fellow, he was a most dissolute wicked wretch; and for his villainies and irregularities aboard, I was forced, at St. Thomas’s island, to clap him in irons, hands and feet, and keep him so upon my poop eight weeks till my arrival at Barbadoes, where I purpos’d to put him on board one of his majesty’s men of war that knew how to handle such refractory sparks; but upon his seeming repentance and earnest intreaty I was prevail’d upon to forbear, to my great vexation afterwards; for he soon got ashore there, and run away from my ship, concealing himself in some of the idle houses in Bridgetown, till, by his extravagancies, he had not only spent all his wages, but run so far in debt, that he could have no longer entertainment or credit; whereupon he enter’d himself on board a small New-England frigat of twenty guns, and an excellent sailer, which some Barbadoes merchants bought and mann’d, and fitted out warlikely, and brought Colonel Russell, the governor to be part-owner with them, who gave her his commission. The pretence of her voyage was for Madagascar to purchase negroes; but as I privately understood then, and since have been well assured, her design was for the Red Sea, to make the best of her market with the Mogul’s ships, which having done, and bought a few negroes for a colour, she might boldly and safely return to Barbadoes with her treasure, as long as the governor was interested, and a party concerned, and so near of kin to the English admiral. I sold a certain judge and merchant there then, a large parcel of fire-arms for her use, more than was customary or necessary for such a small vessel to carry only for her defence on a trading voyage. What became of her since I know not.