A new account of Guinea, and the slave-tradeSnelgrave, William
History
A new account of Guinea, and the slave-trade
Snelgrave, William
Guinea -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Slave trade -- Africa, West -- Early works to 1800
I was then on board Captain _Cocklyn_’s old Ship; for they had not
quite fitted mine for their use, not having at that time any Guns
mounted; so I saw the great fear and confusion that was amongst them.
My Mate, who had entered with them, said, “He believed, by the Ship’s
coming in so boldly, it was the _Launceston_ Man of War of forty
Guns, whom we had left in _Holland_. For he had heard me say, she was
to follow us to the Coast of _Guinea_.”
Happy would it have been for us and many more, if it had been so. For
had that, or even a smaller Ship of twenty Guns, with the King’s
Commission, come in at that time, or any other, whilst I was in their
hands, I am persuaded they would have easily destroyed them. For the
new-entered-men had little Courage; and the far greater part both of
old and new Pirates, were so much in drink, that there could have
been no Order or Conduct amongst them in an Engagement. So that it
would have been very easy to have subdued them, and prevented that
terrible Destruction, which happened to above one hundred Sail of
Ships, that fell afterwards into their Hands, in their going down the
Coast of _Guinea_: Together with those Damages that happened a good
while after in the _East Indies_, by some of this Gang; and the great
Ravage made by _Roberts_ (who rose out of _Davis_’s Ashes) the second
time, on the Coast of _Guinea_, till he was happily destroyed by
Sir _Chaloner Ogle_ in the _Swallow_ Man of War. But the reason why
no timely care was taken to prevent so great a Destruction, is not
proper for me to mention in this place.
As I had no business to be on board the Pirate Ship in time of
Action, I asked Captain _Cocklyn_’s leave to go on board their
_Tender_, which he readily granted. Just as I was going, several of
my People who had entered with him, said, “They would go along with
me, for they had never seen a Gun fired in anger.” _Cocklyn_ hearing
that, told them, “That now they should learn to smell Gunpowder,” and
caned them heartily.
So I went on board Captain _Elliot_, where I soon saw the _French_
Ship taken. For coming so unexpectedly into the Pirates hands, they
made no Resistance: And because the Captain did not strike on their
first firing, they put a Rope about his Neck, and hoisted him up
and down several times to the Main-yard-arm, till he was almost
dead. Captain _Le Boose_ coming at that instant, luckily saved his
Life: And highly resenting this their cruel usage to his Countryman,
he protested, “he would remain no longer in Partnership with such
barbarous Villains.” So, to pacify him, they left the _Frenchmen_
with the Ship in his care; and after the Cargoe was destroyed, they
cut the Ship’s Masts by the board, and run her on Shore, for she was
very old, and not fit for their purpose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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