A general history of the pyrates : $b from their first rise and settlement in the island of Providence, to the present timeJohnson, Charles, active 1724-1731
History
A general history of the pyrates : $b from their first rise and settlement in the island of Providence, to the present time
Johnson, Charles, active 1724-1731
Pirates -- Early works to 1800
The Town is of mean Building, but large and populous, the Residence of the
greater Part of the Natives, who, thro' the whole Island, are computed at
10000, the Militia at 3000, and are in general, a rascally thievish
Generation, as an old grave Friend of mine can Witness; for he having
carried a Bag of second hand Cloaths on Shore, to truck for Provisions,
seated himself on the Sand for that Purpose, presently gathered a Crowd
round him, to view them; one of which desired to know the Price of a black
Suit, that unluckily lay uppermost, and was the best of them, agreeing to
the Demand, with little Hesitation, provided it would but fit him; he put
them on immediately, in as much hurry as possible, without any _co-licentia
Seignor_; and when my Friend was about to commend the Goodness of the Suit,
and Exactness they set with, not dreaming of the Impudence of running away
from a Crowd, the Rascal took to his Heels, my Friend followed and bawled
very much, and tho' there was 500 People about the Place, it served to no
other End but making him a clear Stage, that the best Pair of Heels might
carry it; so he lost the Suit of Cloaths, and before he could return to his
Bag, others of them had beat off his Servant, and shared the rest.
Most of the Ships from _Guiney_, of their own Nation, and frequently those
of ours, call at one or other of these Islands, to recruit with fresh
Provisions, and take in Water, which on the Coast are not so good, nor so
conveniently to come by: Their own Ships likewise, when they touch here,
are obliged to leave the King his Custom for their Slaves, which is always
in Gold, at so much a Head, without any Deduction at _Brasil_, for the
Mortality that may happen afterwards; this by being a constant Bank to pay
off the civil and military Charges of the Government, prevents the
Inconveniency of Remittances, and keeps both it and _Princes_ Isle rich
enough to pay ready Money for every Thing they want of _Europeans_.
Their Beefs are small and lean, (two hundred Weight or a little more,) but
the Goats, Hogs and Fowls very good, their Sugar course and dirty, and Rum
very ordinary; as these Refreshments lay most with People who are in want
of other Necessaries, they come to us in Way of bartering, very cheap: A
good Hog for an old Cutlash; a fat Fowl for a Span of _Brasil_ Tobacco, (no
other Sort being valued, _&c_.) But with Money you give eight Dollars _per_
Head for Cattle; three Dollars for a Goat; six Dollars for a grown Hog; a
Testune and a Half for a Fowl; a Dollar _per_ Gallon for Rum; two Dollars a
Roove for Sugar; and half a Dollar for a Dozen of Paraquets: Here is Plenty
likewise of Corn and Farine, of Limes, Citrons and Yamms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account