He was born at Plymouth,
where his mother kept a public house. She
took great care of his education, and when
he was grown up, as he had an inclination to
the sea, procured him the king's letter.
After he had served some years on board a
man-of-war, he went to Barbadoes, where he
married, got into the merchant service, and
designed to settle in the island. He had the
command of the Marygold brigantine given
him, in which he made two successful voyages
to Guinea and back to Barbadoes. In his
third, he had the misfortune to be taken by
a French pirate, as were several other
English ships, the masters and inferior
officers of which they detained, being in
want of good artists. The brigantine
belonging to White, they kept for their own
use, and sunk the vessel they before sailed
in; but meeting with a ship on the Guinea
coast more fit for their purpose, they went
on board her and burnt the brigantine.
It is not my business here to give an
account of this French pirate, any farther
than Capt. White's story obliges me, though
I beg leave to take notice of their
barbarity to the English prisoners, for they
would set them up as a butt or mark to shoot
at; several of whom were thus murdered in
cold blood, by way of diversion.
White was marked out for a sacrifice by
one of these villains, who, for what reason
I know not, had sworn his death, which he
escaped thus. One of the crew, who had a
friendship for White, knew this fellow's
design to kill him in the night, and
therefore advised him to lie between him and
the ship's side, with intention to save him;
which indeed he did, but was himself shot
dead by the murderous villain, who mistook
him for White.
After some time cruising along the coast,
the pirates doubled the Cape of Good Hope,
and shaped their course for Madagascar,
where, being drunk and mad, they knocked
their ship on the head, at the south end of
the island, at a place called by the natives
Elexa. The country thereabouts was governed
by a king, named Mafaly.
When the ship struck, Capt. White, Capt.
Boreman, (born in the Isle of Wight,
formerly a lieutenant of a man-of-war, but
in the merchant service when he fell into
the hands of the pirates,) Capt. Bowen and
some other prisoners got into the long-boat,
and with broken oars and barrel staves,
which they found in the bottom of the boat,
paddled to Augustin Bay, which is about 14
or 15 leagues from the wreck, where they
landed, and were kindly received by the king
of Bavaw, (the name of that part of the
island) who spoke good English.
They stayed here a year and a half at the
king's expense, who gave them a plentiful
allowance of provision, as was his custom to
all white men, who met with any misfortune
on his coast. His humanity not only provided
for such, but the first European vessel that
came in, he always obliged to take in the
unfortunate people, let the vessel be what
it would; for he had no notion of any
difference between pirates and merchants.
At the expiration of the above term, a
pirate brigantine came in, on board which
the king obliged them to enter, or travel by
land to some other place, which they durst
not do; and of two evils chose the least,
that of going on board the pirate vessel,
which was commanded by one William Read, who
received them very civilly.
This commander went along the coast, and
picked up what Europeans he could meet with.
His crew, however, did not exceed 40 men. He
would have been glad of taking some of the
wrecked Frenchmen, but for the barbarity
they had used towards the English prisoners.
However, it was impracticable, for the
French pretending to lord it over the
natives, whom they began to treat inhumanly,
were set upon by them, one half of their
number cut off, and the other half made
slaves.
Read, with this gang, and a brigantine of
60 tons, steered his course for the Persian
Gulf, where they met a grab, (a one masted
vessel) of about 200 tons, which was made a
prize. They found nothing on board but bale
goods, most of which they threw overboard in
search of gold, and to make room in the
vessel; but as they learned afterwards, they
threw over, in their search, what they so
greedily hunted after, for there was a
considerable quantity of gold concealed in
one of the bales they tossed into the sea!
In this cruise Capt. Read fell ill and
died, and was succeeded by one James. The
brigantine being small, crazy and
worm-eaten, they shaped their course for the
island of Mayotta, where they took out the
masts of the brigantine, fitted up the grab,
and made a ship of her. Here they took in a
quantity of fresh provisions, which are in
this island very plentiful and very cheap,
and found a twelve-oared boat, which
formerly belonged to the Ruby East Indiaman,
which had been lost there.
They stayed here all the monsoon time,
which is about six months; after which they
resolved for Madagascar. As they came in
with the land, they spied a sail coming
round from the east side of the island. They
gave chase on both sides, so that they soon
met. They hailed each other and receiving
the same answer from each vessel, viz.
from the seas, they joined company.
This vessel was a small French ship,
laden with liquors from Martinico, first
commanded by one Fourgette, to trade with
the pirates for slaves, at Ambonavoula, on
the east side of the island, in the latitude
of 17 deg. 30 min. and was by them taken
after the following manner.
The pirates, who were headed by George
Booth, now commander of the ship, went on
board, (as they had often done,) to the
number of ten, and carried money with them
under pretence of purchasing what they
wanted. This Booth had formerly been gunner
of a pirate ship, called the Dolphin. Capt.
Fourgette was pretty much upon his guard,
and searched every man as he came over the
side, and a pair of pocket pistols were
found upon a Dutchman, who was the first
that entered. The captain told him that
he was a rogue, and had a design upon his
ship, and the pirates pretended to be so
angry with this fellow's offering to come on
board with arms, that they threatened to
knock him on the head, and tossing him
roughly into the boat, ordered him ashore,
though they had before taken an oath on the
Bible, either to carry the ship, or die in
the undertaking.
They were all searched, but they however
contrived to get on board four pistols,
which were all the arms they had for the
enterprise, though Fourgette had 20 hands on
board, and his small arms on the awning, to
be in readiness.
The captain invited them into the cabin
to dinner, but Booth chose to dine with the
petty officer, though one Johnson, Isaac and
another, went down. Booth was to give the
watchword, which was hurrah. Standing
near the awning, and being a nimble fellow,
at one spring he threw himself upon it, drew
the arms to him, fired his pistol among the
men, one of whom he wounded, (who jumping
overboard was lost) and gave the signal.
Three, I said, were in the cabin, and
seven upon deck, who with handspikes and the
arms seized, secured the ship's crew. The
captain and his two mates, who were at
dinner in the cabin, hearing the pistol,
fell upon Johnson, and stabbed him in
several places with their forks, but they
being silver, did him no great damage.
Fourgette snatched his piece, which he
snapped at Isaac's breast several times, but
it would not go off. At last, finding his
resistance vain, he submitted, and the
pirates set him, and those of his men who
would not join them, on shore, allowing him
to take his books, papers, and whatever else
he claimed as belonging to himself; and
besides treating him very humanely, gave him
several casks of liquor, with arms and
powder, to purchase provisions in the
country.
I hope this digression, as it was in a
manner needful, will be excused. I shall now
proceed.
After they had taken in the Dolphin's
company, which were on the island, and
increased their crew, by that means, to the
number of 80 hands, they sailed to St.
Mary's, where Capt. Mosson's ship lay at
anchor, between the island and the main.
This gentleman and his whole ship's company
had been cut off at the instigation of
Ort-Vantyle, a Dutchman of New-York.
Out of her they took water casks and
other necessaries; which having done, they
designed for the river Methelage, on the
west side of Madagascar, in the lat. of 16
degrees or thereabouts, to salt up
provisions and to proceed to the East
Indies, cruise off the islands of St. John,
and lie in wait for the Moor ships from
Mocha.
In their way to Methelage they fell in
(as I have said) with the pirate, on board
of which was Capt. White. They joined
company, came to an anchor together in the
above named river, where they had cleaned,
salted and took in their provisions, and
were ready to go to sea, when a large ship
appeared in sight, and stood into the same
river.
The pirates knew not whether she was a
merchantman or man-of-war. She had been the
latter, belonging to the French king, and
could mount 50 guns; but being taken by the
English, she was bought by some London
merchants, and fitted out from that port to
slave at Madagascar, and go to Jamaica. The
captain was a young, inexperienced man, who
was put in with a nurse.
The pirates sent their boats to speak
with them, but the ship firing at them, they
concluded it a man of war, and rowed ashore;
the grab standing in, and not keeping her
wind so well as the French built ship, run
among a parcel of mangroves, and a stump
piercing her bottom, she sunk: the other run
aground, let go her anchor, and came to no
damage, for the tide of flood fetched her
off.
The captain of the Speaker, for that was
the name of the ship which frightened the
pirates, was not a little vain of having
forced these two vessels ashore, though he
did not know whether they were pirates or
merchantmen, and could not help expressing
himself in these words: "How will my name
ring on the exchange, when it is known I
have run two pirates aground;" which gave
handle to a satirical return from one of his
men after he was taken, who said, "Lord! how
our captain's name will ring on the
exchange, when it is heard, he frightened
two pirate ships ashore, and was taken by
their two boats afterwards."
When the Speaker came within shot, she
fired several times at the two vessels; and
when she came to anchor, several more into
the country, which alarmed the negroes, who,
acquainting their king, he would allow him
no trade, till the pirates living ashore,
and who had a design on his ship, interceded
for them, telling the king, they were their
countrymen, and what had happened was
through a mistake, it being a custom among
them to fire their guns by way of respect,
and it was owing to the gunner of the ship's
negligence that they fired shot.
The captain of the Speaker sent his
purser ashore, to go up the country to the
king, who lived about 24 miles from the
coast, to carry a couple of small arms
inlaid with gold, a couple of brass
blunderbusses, and a pair of pistols, as
presents, and to require trade. As soon as
the purser was ashore, he was taken
prisoner, by one Tom Collins, a Welshman,
born in Pembroke, who lived on shore, and
had belonged to the Charming Mary, of
Barbadoes, which went out with a commission
but was converted to a pirate. He told the
purser he was his prisoner, and must answer
the damage done to two merchants who were
slaving. The purser answered, that he was
not commander; that the captain was a hot
rash youth, put into business by his
friends, which he did not understand; but
however, satisfaction should be made. He was
carried by Collins on board Booth's ship,
where, at first, he was talked to in pretty
strong terms; but after a while very civilly
used, and the next morning sent up to the
king with a guide, and peace made for him.
The king allowed them trade, and sent
down the usual presents, a couple of oxen
between twenty and thirty people laden with
rice, and as many more with the country
liquor, called toke.
The captain then settled the factory on
the shore side, and began to buy slaves and
provisions. The pirates were among them, and
had opportunities of sounding the men, and
knowing in what posture the ship lay. They
found by one Hugh Man, belonging to the
Speaker, that there were not above 40 men on
board, and that they had lost the second
mate and 20 hands in the long boat, on the
coast, before they came into this harbor,
but that they kept a good look out, and had
their guns ready primed. However, he, for a
hundred pounds, undertook to wet all the
priming, and assist in taking the ship.
After some days the captain of the
Speaker came on shore, and was received with
great civility by the heads of the pirates,
having agreed before to make satisfaction.
In a day or two after, he was invited by
them to eat a barbacued shoat, which
invitation he accepted. After dinner, Capt.
Bowen, who was, I have already said, a
prisoner on board the French pirate, but now
become one of the fraternity, and master of
the grab, went out, and returned with a case
of pistols in his hand, and told the Captain
of the Speaker, whose name I won't mention,
that he was his prisoner. He asked, upon
what account? Bowen answered, "they wanted
his ship, his was a good one, and they were
resolved to have her, to make amends for the
damage he had done them."
Hugh Man wetting the Priming of the
Guns.
In the mean while his boat's crew, and the
rest of his men ashore, were told by others
of the pirates, who were drinking with them,
that they were also prisoners: some of them
answered, Zounds, we don't trouble our
heads what we are, let's have t'other bowl
of punch.
A watchword was given, and no boat to be
admitted on board the ship. This word, which
was for that night, Coventry, was
known to them. At 8 o'clock they manned the
twelve-oared boat, and the one they found at
Mayotta, with 24 men, and set out for the
ship. When they were put off, the captain of
the Speaker desired them to come back, as he
wanted to speak with them. Capt. Booth asked
what he wanted! He said, "they could never
take his ship." "Then," said Booth, "we'll
die in or alongside of her."--"But," replied
the captain, "if you will go with safety,
don't board on the larboard side, for there
is a gun out of the steerage loaded with
partridge, which will clear the decks." They
thanked him, and proceeded.
When they were near the ship they were
hailed, and the answer was, the Coventry.
"All well," said the mate, "get the lights
over the side;" but spying the second boat,
he asked what boat that was? One answered it
was a raft of water, another that it was a
boat of beef; this disagreement in the
answers made the mate suspicious, who cried
out--Pirates, take to your arms my lads,
and immediately clapped a match to a gun,
which, as the priming was before wet by the
treachery of Hugh Man, only fizzed. They
boarded in the instant, and made themselves
masters of her, without the loss of a man on
either side.
The next day they put necessary
provisions on board the French built ship,
and gave her to the captain of the Speaker,
and those men who would go off with him,
among whom was Man, who had betrayed his
ship; for the pirates had both paid him the
100l agreed, and kept his secret. The
captain having thus lost his ship, sailed in
that which the pirates gave him, for
Johanna, where he fell ill and died with
grief.
The pirates having here victualled, they
sailed for the Bay of St. Augustine, where
they took in between 70 and 80 men, who had
belonged to the ship Alexander, commanded by
Capt. James, a pirate. They also took up her
guns, and mounted the Speaker with 54, which
made up their number, and 240 men, besides
slaves, of which they had about 20.
From hence they sailed for the East
Indies, but stopped at Zanguebar for fresh
provisions, where the Portuguese had once a
settlement, but now inhabited by Arabians.
Some of them went ashore with the captain to
buy provisions. The captain was sent for by
the governor, who went with about 14 in
company. They passed through the guard, and
when they had entered the governor's house,
they were all cut off; and, at the same
time, others who were in different houses of
the town were set upon, which made them fly
to the shore. The long-boat, which lay off a
grappling, was immediately put in by those
who looked after her. There were not above
half a dozen of the pirates who brought
their arms ashore, but they plied them so
well, for they were in the boat, that most
of the men got into her. The quarter-master
ran down sword in hand, and though he was
attacked by many, he behaved himself so
well, that he got into a little canoe, put
off, and reached the long-boat.
In the interim, the little fort the
Arabians had, played upon the ship, which
returned the salute very warmly. Thus they
got on board, with the loss of Captain Booth
and 20 men, and set sail for the East
Indies. When they were under sail, they went
to voting for a new captain, and the
quarter-master, who had behaved so well in
the last affair with the Arabians, was
chosen; but he declining all command the
crew made choice of Bowen for captain,
Pickering to succeed him as master, Samuel
Herault, a Frenchman, for quarter-master,
and Nathaniel North for captain
quarter-master.
Things being thus settled, they came to
the mouth of the Red Sea, and fell in with
13 sail of Moor ships, which they kept
company with the greater part of the day,
but afraid to venture on them, as they took
them for Portuguese men-of-war. At length
part were for boarding, and advised it. The
captain though he said little, did not seem
inclined, for he was but a young pirate,
though an old commander of a merchantman.
Those who pushed for boarding, then desired
Captain Boreman, already mentioned, to take
the command; but he said he would not be a
usurper; that nobody was more fit for it
than he who had it; that for his part he
would stand by his fuzil, and went forward
to the forecastle with such as would have
him take the command, to be ready to board;
on which the captain's quarter-master said,
if they were resolved to engage, their
captain, (whose representative he was) did
not want resolution; therefore ordered them
to get their tacks on board (for they had
already made a clear ship) and get ready for
boarding; which they accordingly did, and
coming up with the sternmost ship, they
fired a broadside into her, which killed two
Moors, clapped her on board and carried her;
but night coming on, they made only this
prize, which yielded them £500 per man. From
hence they sailed to the coast of Malabar.
The adventures of these pirates on this
coast are already set down in Captain
Bowen's life, to which I refer the reader,
and shall only observe, that Captain White
was all this time before the mast, being a
forced man from the beginning.
Bowen's crew dispersing, Captain White
went to Methelage, where he lived ashore
with the king, not having an opportunity of
getting off the island, till another pirate
ship, called the Prosperous, commanded by
one Howard, who had been bred a lighterman
on the river Thames, came in. This ship was
taken at Augustin, by some pirates from
shore, and the crew of their long-boat,
which joined them, at the instigation of one
Ranten, boatswain's mate, who sent for
water. They came on board in the night and
surprised her, though not without
resistance, in which the captain and chief
mate were killed, and several others
wounded.
Those who were ashore with Captain White,
resolving to enter in this ship, determined
him to go also, rather than be left alone
with the natives, hoping, by some accident
or other, to have an opportunity of
returning home. He continued on board this
ship, in which he was made quarter-master,
till they met with, and all went on board of
Bowen, as is set down in his life, in which
ship he continued after Bowen left them. At
Port Dolphin he went off in the boats
to fetch some of the crew left ashore, the
ship being blown to sea the night before.
The ship not being able to get in, and he
supposing her gone to the west side of the
island, as they had formerly proposed, he
steered that course in his boat with 26 men.
They touched at Augustin, expecting the
ship, but she not appearing in a week, the
time they waited, the king ordered them to
be gone, telling them they imposed on him
with lies, for he did not believe they had
any ship: however he gave them fresh
provision: they took in water, and made for
Methelage. Here as Captain White was known
to the king, they were kindly received, and
staid about a fortnight in expectation of
the ship, but she not appearing they raised
their boat a streak, salted the provision
the king gave them, put water aboard, and
stood for the north end of the island,
designing to go round, believing their ship
might be at the island of St. Mary. When
they came to the north end, the current,
which sets to the N.W. for eight months in
the year, was so strong they found it
impossible to get round. Wherefore they got
into a harbor, of which there are many for
small vessels. Here they stayed about three
weeks or a month, when part of the crew were
for burning the boat, and travelling over
land to a black king of their acquaintance,
whose name was Reberimbo, who lived at a
place called Manangaromasigh, in lat. 15
deg. or thereabouts. As this king had been
several times assisted by the whites in his
wars, he was a great friend to them. Captain
White dissuaded them from this undertaking,
and with much ado, saved the boat; but one
half of the men being resolved to go by
land, they took what provisions they thought
necessary, and set out. Captain White, and
those who staid with him, conveyed them a
day's journey, and then returning, he got
into the boat with his companions, and went
back to Methelage, fearing these men might
return, prevail with the rest, and burn the
boat.
The Murder of the Captain and Chief
Mate.
Here he built a deck on his boat, and lay by
three months, in which time there came in
three pirates with a boat, who had formerly
been trepanned on board the Severn and
Scarborough men-of-war, which had been
looking for pirates on the east side; from
which ships they made their escape at
Mohila, in a small canoe to Johanna, and
from Johanna to Mayotta, where the king
built them the boat which brought them to
Methelage. The time of the current's setting
with violence to the N.W. 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 harbor and staid there a
month, maintaining themselves with fish and
wild hogs, of which there was a great
plenty. At length, having fine weather, and
the strength of the current abating, they
got round; and after sailing about 40 miles
on the east side, they went into a harbor,
where they found a piece of a jacket, which
they knew belonged to one of those men who
had left them 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 anchor in convenient harbors every
night, till they got as far as
Manangaromasigh, where king Reberimbo
resided, where they went in to inquire for
their men, who left them at the north end,
and to recruit with provisions. The latter
was given them, but they could get no
information of their companions.
From hence they went to the island of St.
Mary, where a canoe came off to them with a
letter directed to any white man. They knew
it to be the hand of one of their former
shipmates. The contents of this letter was
to advise them to be on their guard, and not
trust too much to the blacks of this place,
they having been formerly treacherous. They
inquired after their ship, and were
informed, 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 them lived
together in a large house they had built,
and fortified with about twenty pieces of
cannon.
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 itself, as the
English, French, Dutch, &c. They made
inquiry of their consorts after the
different prizes which belonged to them, and
they found all very justly laid by to be
given them, if ever they returned, as were
what belonged to the men who went over land.
Captain White, hankering after home,
proposed going out again in the boat; for he
was adverse to settling with them; and many
others agreed to go under his command; and
if they could 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
increased 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
tons, and 6 guns, which had been taken by
some pirates who lived at Maratan, on the
east side of the island, and some of the
Degrave East-Indiaman's crew, to whom the
master of her refused a passage to Europe;
for as he had himself been a pirate, and
quarter-master to Bowen, in the Speaker, he
apprehended their taking away his ship. War
then existing between England and France, he
thought they might do it without being
called in question as pirates. The pirates
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,
cleaned and tallowed 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
joining him, and going round to Ambonavoula,
to make up a company, it was agreed upon,
and they unanimously chose him commander.
They accordingly put to sea, and stood away
round the south end of the island, and
touched at Don Mascarenhas, where he took in
a surgeon, and stretching over again to
Madagascar, fell in with Ambonavoula, and
made up his complement of 60 men. From hence
he shaped his course for the island of
Mayotta, where he cleaned his ship, and
waited for the season to go into the Red
Sea. His provisions being taken in, the time
proper, and the ship well fitted, he steered
for Babel-Mandeb, and running into a harbor,
waited for the Mocha ships.
He here took two grabs laden with
provisions, and having some small money and
drugs aboard. These he plundered of what was
for his turn, kept them a fortnight by him,
and let them go. Soon after they espied a
lofty ship, upon which they put to sea; but
finding her European built, and too strong
to attempt, for it was a Dutchman, they gave
over the chase, and were glad to shake them
off, and return to their station. Fancying
they were here discovered, 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. A few days after, they met
with a large ship of about 1000 tons and 600
men, called the Malabar, which they chased,
kept company with her all night, and took in
the morning, with the loss of only their
boatswain, and two or three men wounded. In
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. They therefore
filled her away with prisoners, gave them
provision and sent them away.
Some days after this, they espied a
Portuguese man-of war of 44 guns, which they
chased, but gave it over by carrying away
their maintopmast, 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 merchantman, which they chased
with English colors flying. The chase,
taking White for an English man-of-war or
East-Indiaman, 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 detained, and the pirates
getting into his boat with their arms, went
on board and fired on the Portuguese, who
being surprised, asked if war was broke out
between England and Portugal? They answered
in the affirmative, but the captain could
not believe them. 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 shots in the chase, but when they
came along side of 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 cargo, with what bale 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 plundered the Malabar
ship, out of which they took as much money
as came to £200 sterling a man, but missed
50,000 sequins, which were hid in a jar
under a cow's stall, kept for the giving
milk to the Moor supercargo, an ancient man.
They then put the Portuguese and Moor
prisoners on board the Malabar, and sent
them about their business. The day after
they had sent them away, one Captain
Benjamin Stacy, in a ketch of 6 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, who were under
the care of Stacy. The children took on for
their loss, and the captain asked the reason
of their tears, was answered by Stacy, and
the above sum and plate was all the children
had to bring them up. Captain White made a
speech to his men, and told them it was
cruel to rob the innocent children; upon
which, by unanimous consent, all was
restored to them again. Besides, they made a
gathering among themselves, and made a
present to Stacy's mate, and other of 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 anchor, which the
people had made prize of, by seizing the
master and boat's crew ashore. They found a
French gentleman, one Monsieur Berger, on
board, whom they carried with them, took out
about 2000 dollars, and sold the ketch to
the chief ashore for provisions.
Hence they sailed for Madagascar, but
touched at Mascarenhas, where several of
them went ashore with their booty, about
£1200 a man. Here taking in fresh
provisions, White steered for Madagascar,
and fell in with Hopeful Point where they
shared their goods, and took up settlements
ashore, where White built a house, bought
cattle, took off the upper deck of ship, and
was fitting her up for the next season. When
she was near ready for sea, Captain John
Halsey, who had made a broken voyage, came
in with a brigantine, which being a more
proper vessel for their turn, they desisted
from working on the ship, and those who had
a mind for fresh adventures, went on board
Halsey, among whom Captain White entered
before the mast.
At his return to Madagascar, White was
taken ill of a flux, which in about five or
six months ended his days. Finding his time
was drawing nigh, he made his will, left
several legacies, and named three men of
different nations, guardian to a son he had
by a woman in the country, requiring he
might be sent to England with the money he
left him, by the first English ship, to be
brought up in the Christian religion, in
hopes that he might live a better man than
his father. He was buried with the same
ceremony they used at the funerals of their
companions, which is mentioned in the
account of Halsey. Some years after, an
English ship touching there, the guardians
faithfully discharged their trust, and put
him on board with the captain, who brought
up the boy with care, acting by him as
became a man of probity and honor. |
