THE PIRATES OF THE HIGH SEAS – Know Your Infamous Buccaneers, Their Exploits & Their Real Histories (9 Books in One Edition). Даниэль Дефо
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The Time of the Current's setting with Violence to the North-West being over, they proceeded together in White's Boat (burning that of Mayotta) to the North-End, where the Current running yet too strong to get round, they went into a Harbour and staid there a Month, maintaining themselves with Fish and wild Hog, of which there was great Plenty. At length, having a Slatch of fine Weather, and the Strength of the Current abating, they got round; and after sailing about 40 Mile on the East-Side, they went into a Harbour, where they found a Piece of a Jacket, which they knew belong'd to one of those Men who had left ’em to go over Land; he had been a forced Man, and a Ship Carpenter; this they supposed he had torn to wrap round his Feet, that Part of the Country being barren and rocky. As they sailed along this Coast, they came to an Anchor in convenient Harbours every Night, till they got as far as Manangaromasigh where King Reberimbo resided, where they went in to enquire for their Men, who left ’em at the North-End, and to recruit with Provisions. The latter was given ’em, but they could have no Information of their Companions.
From hence they went to the Island of St. Mary, where a Canoe came off to ’em with a Letter directed to any White Man. They knew it to be the Hand of one of their former Ship-Mates. The Contents of this Letter was to advise ’em to be on their Guard, and not trust too much to the Blacks of this Place, they having been formerly treacherous. They enquired after their Ship, and was inform'd, that the Company had given her to the Moors, who were gone away with her, and that they themselves were settled at Ambonavoula, about 20 Leagues to the Southward of St. Mary, where they lived among the Negroes as so many sovereign Princes.
One of the Blacks, who brought off the Letter, went on board their Boat, carried them to the Place called Olumbah, a Point of Land made by a River on one Side, and the Sea on the other, where twelve of ’em lived together in a large House they had built, and fortified with about 20 Pieces of Canon.
The rest of them were settled in small Companies of about 12 or 14 together, more or less, up the said River, and along the Coast, every Nation by it self, as the English, French, Dutch, &c. They made Enquiry of their Consorts after the Shares of Prizes which belong'd to them, and they found all very justly laid by to be given them, if ever they return'd, as were what belong'd to the Men who went over Land. Captain White hankering after home, proposed going out again in the Boat; for he was averse to settling with them; and many others agreed to go under his Command; and if they could not meet with a Ship to carry them to Europe, to follow their old Vocation. But the others did not think it reasonable he should have the Boat, but that it should be set to Sale for the Benefit of the Company. Accordingly it was set up, and Captain White bought it for 400 Pieces of Eight, and with some of his old Consorts, whose Number was increas'd by others of the Ship's Crew, he went back the Way he had come, to Methelage Here he met with a French Ship of about 50 Tuns and 6 Guns; she had been taken by some pyrates who lived at Maratan, on the East-Side of the Island, and some of the Degrave East-India Man's Crew, to whom the Master of her refused a Passage to Europe; for as he had himself been a Pyrate and Quarter-Master to Bowen in the Speaker, he apprehended their taking away his Ship, War being then between England and France, he thought they might do it without being called in question as pyrates. The pyrates who had been concerned in taking Herault's Ship, for that was his Name, had gone up the Country, and left her to the Men belonging to the Degrave, who had fitted her up, clean'd and taffow'd her, and got in some Provision, with a Design to go to the East-Indies, that they might light on some Ship to return to their own Country.
Captain White finding these Men proposed their joining him, and going round to Ambonavoula, to make up a Company, which they agreed to, and unanimously chose him Commander. They accordingly put to Sea, and stood away round the South End of the Island, and touch'd at Don Mascarena, where he took in a Surgeon, and stretching over again to Madagascar, fell in with Ambonavoula, and made up his Complement 60 Men. From hence he shaped his Course for the Island of Mayotta, where he cleaned his Ship, and staid for the Season to go into the Red Seas: His Provisions being taken in, the Time proper, and the Ship well fitted, he steer'd for Babelmandel, and running into a Harbour waited for the Mocha Ships.
He here took two Grabs laden with Provision, and having some small Money and Drugs aboard; these he plunder'd of what was for his Turn, kept ’em a Fortnight by him, and then let them go. Soon after they spied a tall Ship, upon which they put to Sea; but finding her Europe built, and too strong to attempt, for it was a Dutch Man, they gave over the Chace, and were glad to shake him off, and return to their Station. Fancying they were here discover'd, from the Coast of Arabia, or that the Grabs had given Information of them, they stood over for the Ethiopian Shore, keeping a good look out for the Mocha Ships.
Few Days after they met with a large Ship of about 1000 Tuns and 600 Men, called the Malabar, which they chased, kept Company with all Night, and took in the Morning, with the Loss only of their Boatswain, and two or three Men wounded. In the taking this Ship they damaged their own so much, by springing their Foremast, carrying away their Bowsprit, and beating in part of their upper Works, that they did not think her longer fit for their Use, therefore filled her with Prisoners, gave ’em Provision, and sent them away.
Some Days after this they spied a Portuguese Man of War of 44 Guns, which they chased, but gave it over, by carrying away their Main-Top-Mast, so that they did not speak with her, for the Portuguese took no Notice of them.
Four Days after they had left this Man of War, they fell in with a Portuguese Merchant-Man, which they chased with the English Colours flying, the Chace taking White for an English Man of War or East-India Man, made no Sail to get from him, but on his coming up brought to, and sent his Boat on board with a Present of Sweet-Meats for the English Captain; his Boat's Crew was detain'd, and the pyrates getting into his Boat with their Arms, went on board, and fir'd on the Portueguese, who being surprizd, asked if War was broke out between England and Portugal? They answer'd in the Affirmative, but the Captain could not believe ’em. However, they took what they liked, and kept him with them.
After two Days they met with the Dorothy, an English Ship, Captain Penruddock Commander, coming from Mocha. They exchanged several Shot in the Chace, but when they came a Long-side her, they entered their Men, and found no Resistance, she being navigated by Moors, no Europeans except the Officers being on board. On a Vote they gave Captain Penruddock (from whom they took a considerable Quantity of Money) the Portuguese Ship and Cargoe, with what Bales he pleased to take out of his own, bid him go about his Business, and make what he could of her. As to the English Ship, they kept her for their own Use.
Soon after they plunder'd the Mallabar Ship, out of which they took as much Money as came to 200 l. Sterling a man, but miss'd 50000 Chequins which were hid in a Jar under a Cow's-Stall, kept for the giving Milk to the Moor Supercargoe, an ancient Man. They then put the Portuguese and Moor Prisoners on board the Mallabar, and sent them about their Business. The Day after they had sent them away, one Captain Benjamin Stacy, in a Ketch of six Guns fell into their Hands; they took what Money he had, and what Goods and Provisions they wanted. Among the Money were 500 Dollars, a Silver Mug and two Spoons belonging to a Couple of Children on board, and under the Care of Stacy. The Children took on for their Loss, and the Captain asking the Reason of their Tears, was answer'd by Stacy, that the above Sum and Plate was all the Children had to bring them up.
Captain White made a Speech to his Men, and told ’em, it was cruel to rob the innocent Children; upon which, by unanimous Consent, all was restor'd them again; besides, they made a Gathering among themselves, and made a Present to Stacy's Mate, and other his inferior Officers, and about 120 Dollars to the Children; they then discharged Stacy and his Crew, and made the best of their Way out of the Red Sea.
They came into the Bay of Defarr, where they found a Ketch at an Anchor, which the People had made Prize of, by seizing the Master and Boat's Crew ashoar. They found a French Gentleman, one Monsieur Berger, on board, whom they carried with ’em, took out about 2000 Dollars, and sold