The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crewsDefoe, Daniel
History
The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crews
Defoe, Daniel
Pirates -- Early works to 1800
They weigh'd and crept along ashore to the Westward, and next Day, which
was the Twenty third, the Captain with his Spying-glass saw seven or
eight Men near the Shore; wherefore, he sent the Boat to endeavour to
speak with them. As soon as they saw the Boat approach them, they went
off; the Men however went on Shore, and at some Distance saw two Camels
and two Asses loaden, pass along with Men attending them; they did what
they could to speak with these too, but when they perceived the Boat's
Men to make towards them, they drove so fast there was no coming near
them.
The next Morning the Weather being clearer than ordinary, the Captain
looking thro' his Glass, fancied he saw several tall Spires to the
Westward; he weigh'd Anchor, and stood away for them; by four in the
Afternoon, he plainly perceived a large Town, and by six came to an
Anchor right over against it; however, he did not send the Boat on Shore
that Night, but next Morning he ordered Mr. _Baldwin_ the third Mate,
Mr. _Sale_ the Purser, with the Molotto before-mentioned, who spoke the
_Turkish_ and _Arabian_ Languages, to take the Yawl with four Hands, and
to carry with them a white Flag, that they might appear to come in a
friendly and peaceable Manner, charging them at the same Time to say or
do nothing which might appear harsh or offensive. The Boat was no sooner
in with the Shore, but the Natives flock'd as it were to meet them, and
appeared very courteous: The Molotto spoke to them in _Arabian_ Tongue,
giving them to understand, that they were driven upon their Coasts by
the Misfortune of having lost their Voyage, that they were in Want of
Water, and begg'd they would shew them where they might be supplied, and
that if they would think fit to furnish them with fresh Provision they
would pay them in Money, or any Goods or Curiosities of _Europe_.
It happened the Language they spoke was a Kind of _Arabick_, so that the
Molotto could discourse with them perfectly well; they answered him,
that the King was absent from the City, and that they could do nothing
till his Return, but that he would be there as that Night, for they had
sent him Word of the coming of a Ship, as soon as it appeared in Sight.
That however, they might assure themselves, that all they requested
should be granted, and shewed them where there were several fine Springs
of Water: These Springs being a pretty Way from the Water-side, and the
Ground near them craggy and uneven; the Molotto told them it would be
difficult to rowl their Casks so long a Way, and over such bad Ground,
and ask'd them if there were not any Spring nearer the Sea. They
answered them no, but that the King would give them Oxen to draw their
Casks to the Boat; and so they returned on Board with a Present from the
King's Son of a Sarne of mash'd Dates, a matted Jar of Sweet-Meats, and
four Sheep.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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