Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Paul Cuffe, a Pequot Indian, During Thirty Years Spent at Sea, and in Travelling in Foreign Lands — John Shaqi
Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Paul Cuffe, a Pequot Indian, During Thirty Years Spent at Sea, and in Travelling in Foreign LandsCuffe, Paul
History
Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Paul Cuffe, a Pequot Indian, During Thirty Years Spent at Sea, and in Travelling in Foreign Lands
Cuffe, Paul
Cuffe, Paul, 1795 or 1796-
After discharging our freight at Oldtown, on the Vineyard, I went home
to New Bedford, where I stayed three months, when I again shipped
aboard of a whaler called the Delight, Captain Philip Sanford. Our
voyage was made to St. Domingo in twenty eight days. Here we commenced
fishing, but catched nothing but black fish, which we sold for
potatoes, oranges, squashes &c. We then went down upon the Jamaica
coast, where we caught seven sperm whale; after this we went into
Mexico Bay where we took four more whale.--Then we went to the Western
Islands, where we caught three more large whale. We then stopped at
Flores, and took in potatoes, onions, chickens, pumpkins and squashes.
We stopped at several other of this group of Islands on our way home.
We were gone eight months on this voyage. After unloading our ship, I
stayed at New Bedford but a few weeks before I again left home on a
visit to the State of New-York, to see a cousin that I had not seen for
more than eighteen years. This man lives in the town of Stockbridge,
and county of Madison. His name is Michael Wainer, a man of good
property and of respectable standing. I stayed at this place until the
spring of 1838, when I went to Buffalo, and shipped aboard of the
Steamer Wisconsin, bound to Detroit, in the State of Michigan. We had
two hundred and fifty passengers, with their goods, on board. The next
trip that we made was to Chicago, in the State of Illinois; our lading
was the same as we had in our last trip. On our return passage, I hurt
my foot while taking in wood, at Cleaveland in Ohio. After this I
boarded a few days in Buffalo, but my foot continuing lame, I again
returned to Stockbridge, where I arrived sometime in the month of June,
1838. Here I labored for several persons in the course of the season. I
think the people of this place are as industrious and respectable as in
any place with which I have been acquainted. They are, in general, good
livers, have fewer poor people among them, than most of the places
which I have visited, and are very civil and courteous to strangers.
They are principally emigrants from the New England States. The town is
beautifully situated, having the Oneida Creek, running from south to
north through its centre. Upon this stream are a number of grist and
saw mills. Here would be an excellent place for erecting manufactories
of cotton or wool. From the centre of this town to the Utica and
Syracuse Rail Road is but seven miles. This town produces excellent
winter wheat, corn, rye, barley and oats. It is called one of the
richest towns in the State of New-York.
I now take leave of those who may hereafter peruse this relation of
events through which the writer has passed, during his stay among
earth's travellers. May heaven's choicest blessings ever be theirs,
together with the innumerable comforts which are the attendants of an
earthly pilgrimage. Good bye.
PAUL CUFFE.
_Stockbridge, N.Y. March 18, 1839._
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account