Part 25

That very day that we intended to set sayl, we were all merry at my house with the _Bannian_, and promising that the next day we would pay him what was in arrears, and also lay out five hundred peices more ready money; he seem’d highly pleas’d, leaving him, we shew’d our selves through the whole Factory with much Gallantry. The reason that we did not take in our whole loading in this Port, was the great number of _Dutch_ Vessels which lately came into the road, and more daily expected, which we knew would not only obstruct our Credit, but raise the Commodities of that place. We were fain to scuffle hard among our Country-men for what we had already, there being at that time at Anchor in the harbour several ships. And having ready money pretty store we resolved to take in the rest at _Surrat_, which place would secure us well enough, and what we had deceitfully got. Having spent most part of the day in shewing our selves in the Town, about Three of the Clock in the afternoon, it being the fourteenth day of _July_, we got aboard, as if we intended to feast it, for there was none of the whole Factory, or our _Bannian_ especially would think us so indiscreet to set sayl with half our fraught, that was my policy, and being unsuspected upon that account we might with the greater facility and security march off. Getting all our Anchors aboard in a trice, we loost our Sayls away we steer’d between the Main and _Paulo pan jan_, all the next day till six in the Evening, being then athwart the _South-salt-hill_, we steered _South-west_ and by _west_, and _west_ and by _south_, but from that hill we steer’d _west south west_, having the wind for the most part at _East south east_ with much rain, which afflicted me grievously, for my fears of some pursuing us would not let me quit the Decks till I thought we were out of all danger in being followed. The sixteenth of this moneth at noon we espy’d _Hippins_ Island _Eastward_ ten leagues off, having steer’d all night _West south west_. Latitude about 6 Degrees 38 and Longitude from _South-salt-hil_ 6 Degrees 44 _West_, the wind at _south-east_ with the help of a Currant for twenty four hours, from the sixteenth to the twenty ninth of this month, we had the winds between the _south-east_, and _east north east_, with most intolerable rains at Noon, being in latitude 11 degrees 59 _south_, and longitude 20 Degrees 35 _West_, the variation about 12 Degrees 35 _Westerly_; we sailed this month on several Courses, four hundred ninty six miles.

Mistress _Dorothy_ being indifferently well recovered though a bad spectacle to look on by reason of the skin of her body all coming off with her nails, such was the malignity of the Venome; I say, speaking as well as she could, desired me to write some lines on her dearly beloved dead Comrade, knowing that my fancy did ever incline to measure lines, and so to please my self, more than to give her satisfaction, I composed these Verses.

On the death of his _Indian_ wife, and his old Wench.

_Start not my_ Muse, _what Paradox is this, That the same cause works both my Woe and Bliss? Here lies my bliss, a more than brutish Wife, By her own Butch’ring hands bereft of life. My Woe lies here, my murder’d Joy, Alas! What_ Wicked hand _durst bring this_ Ill _to pass_? Hells consistory _sate within that brest, Which sent my_ Love _to her Eternal rest. How happy had I been, had the_ Blest Powers, _Enlarg’d her_ Minutes, _and have made them_ Hours. _Turn’d these short hours into long days, that I Might dread_ Deaths _approach, when she should dye. But she is gone past all recal; and we Can only weep and sigh her Elegie. Though we don’t mourn she can no_ Mourners _lack, Each_ Nature _is at her sad death in_ Black, _Methinks they’re hoarse with crying, and their votes (Being sad, and doleful) do befit their_ Coats. _The_ Clouds _dropt tears; the_ Ayry-Quire _(which flies Over our heads) do sing her_ Obsequies. _Shall we be dumb, whilst Birds do use their Art? No let’s in Sorrow bear with them a part, When that y’ve done for_ Mall, _bereft of life, Rejoyce with me, dead, dead’s my wicked_ Wife.

_August_ the ninth, steering _Northerly_ forty two Leagues, we found _per observationem_ the Ship to run but thirty seven Leagues, which is five Leagues less by reason of the Current which sets us the _South-wards_ Latitude at 6 Degrees 24 Longitude 36 Degrees 58 _West_ from the _Salthil_. This afternoon we were in the Latitude of the _Changus_, to the _West-wards_ of them, not seeing any sign of danger, the variation is good help if heedfully observ’d, finding about 22 Degrees when you are in 7 or 8 Degrees of _Southerly_ Latitude, a _Northerly_ course will go clear of all danger. The twelfth of this moneth we crost _Æquator_, steering _North, North east_, Latitude 10 Degrees, Seconds 85 Digits _Southerly_ Longitude 36 Degrees 51 digits _West_, the wind at _South_ and by _West_, the variation 19 Degrees, Seconds 35 Digits _West_.

The twenty-fifth of _August_ we lay a try with main course, and mizen our Drift _North_ 9 Leagues, the wind at _South west_, a fresh Gale. One of our men taking our main Top-sail, cryed out a Sail, a Sail. In a quarter of an hour by the help of my Prospective, I could discern her to be an Enemy of considerable force, about some forty four pieces of Ordinance. She made towards us with all the speed she could, and we to shorted our way, bore up to her with all the Sail we could make, so that we fetch’t up one the other quickly although we had but thirty six Guns, eight less than she carry’d, and having fewer men withal we feared her not, but ran up board and board with her before we fir’d a Gun, and then we poured in a whole broad-side into her, whilst we pepper’d them above with whole Vollies of small shot: they returned us the like kindness, which kill’d us four outright besides what were wounded. Our Captain behav’d himself very manfully, and so bestirr’d himself in the fight, shewing so clear a courage as would have animated a very Coward to fight, as for my own part the meer observation of his magnanimous behaviour, infus’d into me more valour than I thought my self capable to contain, or able to make use of: my Land-water Soldiers, the Scrivener and his two Companions, by the Captains example, and my encouraging, look’d Death as boldly, and as daringly in the face, as if they had intended to look him out of countenance, though at first no shot, either great or small went whistling by them but what made them dap their heads, as if that would secure them; that Bullet which injures man never tattles in his ear the ensuing danger; that Bullet that whistles in the Air, proclames your crown as safe from cracking, as is the Goose after she hath past through the Barn door stooping lest her lofty head should knock the top thereof.

There was not any in the Ship exempted from Service, every man as he was Quartered not budging, but doing the utmost he could to offend his Enemy; a brave young stout fellow (whom I shall never forget) standing by me and my _Bantam_ Comrades, a shot came and took away his legg with that fury, that it rebounded from the side; falling, he seemed not a wit daunted, but called out aloud, Courage Captain, I warrant you Victory, if you will but send down this Foot and Legg of mine to the Gunner, and let him send it to them instead of shot, and I shall laugh to see here, how it will kick the Arses of those insolent Rogues; _Gregory_ standing by and seeing what had past, though something scar’d, yet would not discover any fright, and to hide it the better, commended the brave resolution of the man, and as he was laughing at the odness of his conceit (poor Fellow) a shot came and took away one side of his face, so dyed immediately, now it may be said, _he could laugh at him but with half a mouth_. This last unhappy Bout so scared the little valor which was in the Scrivener, that he instantly quitted his station, and disorder’d more men in his way to his supposed safety, the Hold, than twenty Troopers could have done in the midst of a Foot-company, a little afterwards the Drugster attempted to do the like, some of the men in the waste, seeing him upon his flight (just as I was moving on the same design) cried out, knock him down, knock down that cowardly fellow with a handspike, thinking they had meant me, being on the motion, I endeavour’d to prove the contrary by giving him a sore pelt over the noddle with my Musquet which laid him a sleep on the Deck; was highly commended by our Captain for so doing, telling me that two such fellows among a thousand men, nay an Army of ten times the number, might by their fear occasion their total overthrow.

The Drugster recovering got to his Quarters, and thought it better to dye fighting than to be kill’d for being afraid to dye, to work he went with a Blunderbuss, and fired it so often that he durst not charge it again till it was cooler, my Musquet was in the like condition. By this time the Enemy began to stand away from us, but we were resolv’d to keep her company, and make her pay for the trouble and cost she had put us to. We perceiv’d she had much a doe to keep herself above water, so that we were not long before we came to bear again upon her, which we did so efficaciously, that by a lucky shot penetrating her powder room she blew up, we being so near her, I verily thought she would have blown us into the air too, as she did her own men, part of which fell down into our Ship, as if you would have scatter’d faggot sticks off a house top: we had not above six men in all kill’d, and about nine wounded, none mortally, which were immediately committed into the hands of an excellent Chirurgion we had aboard, who took such a special care of them that before we came to _Surrat_, they were all perfectly cured.

Our ship receiv’d some dammage which was rectifyed by our Carpenters as well as they could for the present, and sail’d forward in our voyage. The next day we were forc’d to lye a Try again, which we did the thirtieth day, the wind at South-west allowing each days drift. The one and thirtieth we shortned sail all but our Sprit-sail, top-sail because of falling too soon with the Coast of _India_. This month we ran eight hundred fifty two Leagues on several Courses.

From the first to the fourth of _September_, we stood away only with a sprit-sail top-sail the course and distances, _&c._, observed having a fair wind Westerly, but the next we steer’d East and by North, with Sprit-sail and fore-topsail. The fifth from twelve to six (_per Compass_) East five Leagues, having at four of the Clock had ground sixty four fathome Oazy sand, then set more sail and stood in _North, North-west_ till six in the morning, our depth in running the Course of seven Leagues was fifty five, sixty and sixty-four Fathome in Latitude, about 20 Degrees, Seconds 42 and Longitude 30 Degrees, Seconds, 3 Digits _West_. On the sixth day we steer’d _East_ and by _North_, till four in the afternoon, at which time we saw Land, it was low and Sandy banks, with some Trees, and a white Tower or Church which may be seen four or five Leagues off. This place was judged by those men of ours that had sail’d often this way, to be fourteen Leagues to the _westward_ of _Diu_. This evening we took a small boat not far off _Poramena_, bound to _Chichauho_ near _Caule_, they had only three horses in her, having nothing in her worth making prize, we dismist them the next day without taking ought from them. The seventh and eight dayes we stood off and on, expecting to meet with some Jonks. On the ninth we met with a Jonk of _Gogo_, coming from _Mare Rubram_, or the Red-Sea, richly laden, which we took, imagining we now were made for ever, but the Commander soon dasht all our joyes, by producing a pass from the President of _Surrat_, upon sight hereof our Captain durst not detain her. I was on board her and having seen some part of her _Cargo_, I judg’d by that the richness of the rest, and therefore perswaded the Captain to make her prize though she had a hundred president passes, but he would not yeild, knowing better the danger than I did, and so dismist her to my great sorrow.

On the tenth we took a Jonk belonging to the King of _Succatore_, bound as they said, to _Surrat_, (the Devil was in our Captain to believe a word they said if ought might be gotten by them) and had aboard of her little that was considerable, saving six horses, and bast to make Ropes withal, wherefore he dismist her.

On the eleventh we anchored in twenty fathom three Leagues off the shore, to give notice if any Jonks should pass by in the night, they stood to the _Westwards_; and met a Jonk coming from the Red-sea, but this cowardly Hulk seeing our Boat, supposed her to be a Scout from some Man of War not far off, ran and sheltered her self under a Fort some fourteen Leagues to the West-ward of _Diu_-head. This Jonk had some _Europeans_ aboard her, which plyed their small shot so that our Boat was forced to leave her, and coming aboard us was sent out again better provided with men and arms to lye as they had done before, to meet with the said Jonk, but in the night came six Sayl of Friggats instead of her and anchored by them. Our desperate daring less than little _Fan Fan_, would not leave them (knowing who they were) till she had spit that little Venom that was in her and then retir’d, this so allarm’d us that we got all sayls loose; and weighing up our Anchor the Cable broke, so our Anchor was lost; we stood in and having spent some shot on the Friggats notwithstanding there was such inequality in the number, they stood away for the shore and left us, however we would not let them pass so, but being some seven Leagues from _Diu_-head, in the night we stood in again amongst the Friggats, but there being little wind and a light night, they crept under the shore, from the twelfth to the seventeenth we plyed to and again, standing off in the day, and in again at night, seeing these Friggats every day, but could not come at them; they lay there to give the Jonks notice of us as we supposed.

The eighteenth we made up to the Land of Saint _John’s_ fourteen or fifteen Leagues off, near which we took a boat that came from _Danda ja-vapore_, bound for a place near _Diu_, out of this boat we only took two _Mestico’s_ and a boy, and so dismist her; anchoring at eighteen Fathome Oazy (being high water and little wind) in Latitude 19 Degrees, 48 Digits, about nine Leagues of shore, _Valentines pike_, _East_ and by _South_, _per_ Compass.

The two and twentieth we saw a Jonk and gave chase to her, fetching her up we found her to be a great Junk of _Surrat_, bound for _Acheen_ with Merchandise, having a pass from the President and Councel, therefore he medled not with them; but in the afternoon came to an anchor in two and twenty Fathom, about thirty Leagues of shore. The weather was gusty with much rain, but never did I hear such peals of Thunder, nor see such great and continued flashes of Lightning: at four in the evening the next day we anchor’d at eighteen fathom within six leagues of _Damon_, the wind at _North North east_, and variable, with such terrible claps of Thunder and Lightning, that my friends, the Scrivener and Drugster would have freely parted with all they had to have been at the bottom of a _Cornish_ Tinn-mine. They envied now poor _Gregories_ condition, accounting his misery a great happiness, for since the Element of Water had received him into the Womb of her protection, the Element of fire might as soon give him a new soul as to detriment his body, theirs being now minutely expos’d to the mercy of its uncontroulable fury.

On the twenty fifths evening we anchored in ten fathom reddish clay, the _Pagod_ _East, North east_, _per_ Compass, and the trees of old _Swalley_, _North, North-east_, about three Leagues off; the next day the wind being at _North, North-west_, we turn’d up and anchor’d in ten fathom, the Toddy-trees _East_ and by _North_, _per_ Compass.

Lastly, having laid one buoy on the tonge of the sand and another on the point of the Main, we came over the Barr, the least water is four fathom and half at half flood, so we ran in till the Souther-Toddy-tree bore South and by East _per_ Compass, and there anchor’d in eight fathom water. This month we sailed not above one Hundred and seven Leagues.

CHAP. XXIV.

Latroon _and his friends arrive in_ Swalley _Road, they go ashore at_ Surrat, _are entertained with other Captains of Ships lately come to an Anchor, by the President; he discovers an old Mistress of his and his old fellow servant, waiting on a Captain in a disguising habit; he renews his acquaintance with her; she tells him what befell her after his unworthy shipping her to_ Virginia, _and the cause of her coming for_ India. _She enters into a League with_ Latroon _to cheat her pretended Master, which she did, the manner how. They sail together from_ Surrat _homeward._

The next day after our coming to an Anchor in _Swalley_ Road, there came in to us six sail of _Dutch_-ships from _Nova Batavia_; and two days after came in four _English_ ships more into the same Port. One of the Captains meeting with a Fleet of Friggats entring in at the Rivers mouth, was boarded by them and unhapily blown up, himself and others of his Company escaped, but were miserably burnt with powder. The ship drave into _Swalley_ over the Bar and was tow’d on shore by our Boats and Barges, but all in a manner consumed by the fire; there was a _Dutch_-ship fought with the Friggats this while, which Sunk three of them, and in the fight there was three more surpriz’d, the first by the _Charles_ Barge, the next by our Long-boat, which we doubly mann’d, and the last by the _Dutch_: they were but of little value, being laden with _Paddee, Beech-leaves_ and other trifles.

Now did our Captain command the Skiffs to be mann’d, and taking me, the Scrivener, Drugster, with some of the Ship, we went ashore, and presented our selves to the President, who wellcom’d us in the best manner he could, and to speak the truth, his entertainment was magnificent; whilst we were frankly drinking Healths to our friends in _England_, there came into us (who came ashore that morning) the Captains of the other three Ships, with their Chief Officers, as also a great many _Dutch_ Commanders and their Attendants, we used to say _The more the merrier_, and so found it, for the President as he was a very generous man, so he was prudent, and therefore by his noble deportment towards us, was resolved to oblige us both.

We on the other side, strove to out-vy each other in gallantry of Spirit, and in this manner we continued feasting three days, swimming in an Ocean of Liquor.

In this time of our Jollity I minded especially a young man that waited on one of the Captains; he had a very Sweet countenance, but his Complexion was very much Sun-burnt by travelling; I did verily believe I had seen the face before, and therefore very much eyed it, which he perceiving fixt his eyes as often on me, for I never cast my eye that way where he stood waiting, but I found him still looking towards me.

My heart renewed private intelligence what he was, but my reason could not so much as guess from whence it came; for by the extraordinary motion thereof beating strokes on my brest as nimbly as a Drummer a Travale on his Drum-head; I look’d on him as one I knew, neither was I alone thus, for at that distance I could perceive that the sight of me did put him into a strange confusion.

As I was contriving how to have some private conference with him, his Master commanded him to take some of the Boats Crew and go aboard and fetch him something which he wanted, he had no sooner receiv’d the Command, but casting his Eyes on me he endeavor’d to tell me by them, he had an eager desire to speak with me.

He going out, I withdrew from the Company, desiring their excuse for a while and follow’d him, but coming near him he trembled so he could hardly move a foot forward, seeing him in that agony, I asked him what ailed him? Bade him not be afraid, that I came not after him to mischief him, or injure him in the least. I believe, said he, you intend me no harm now, but it would have been well if you had never done me any. How! replyed I, it is impossible I should be so cruel as to injure a face so innocently harmless as thine appears: yes, Sir, you have, said he, and were it not for something within me I have no name for, I would be reveng’d on thy very soul for the abuse thou hast done me; I have now no longer time left to discourse you, but to-morrow meet me under the Southern Toddy-trees, and there I shall not fail to let you understand the miseries of ——, and there he dropt his tears so fast that he could hardly see his way before him. I was so amazed at what I had seen and heard, that there I stood as a thing immovable, speechless, and almost sensless; staying somewhat too long, the Captain came out to look me, and found me in this posture staring up into the Skie; What’s the matter man? said he, what wonders dost thou see there, thou dost so gaze? I tell thee man, said he, this is no proper time nor place to take an observation, we are now at Land; but he knew not what observation I had taken, if he had he would have spoiled the Instrument if he could.

Recollecting my self, Your pardon good Sir, said I, I protest you drink too smartly within, so that I was forc’d to come out to suck in some little airy refreshment. This shall not excuse you, quoth he, therefore come along with me. Coming in he told the whole company in what a rediculous posture he found me, and did so Romance upon it, that he made them all laugh. One while, said he, he was telling the Clouds he saw, pleasing himself with the several monstrous shapes they bore, though I could not see one in all our Hemisphere. Then he turned his ear up to the firmament, as if he were hearkening to the Sweet harmony of the Sphears, and in my conscience, if I had not prevented him, I had seen him madly dance by himself without one stroke of Musick. After this he turn’d his eyes upwards again, and fixing them there awhile, the nine heavens or firmaments were so transparent to his sight, that looking through them, he recounted their particular names to himself in order as they were posited. He would have proceeded but that the company would not let him, for my own part he might have talked till dooms-day without any interruption from me, my thoughts being wholly imployed in searching out the meaning of what the young man lately spake to me.